Consumers who are new to the process of price shopping insurance online will discover buying cut-rate Palmer car insurance is not as easy as it seems.
Comparison of Car Insurance in Palmer, Alaska
Cutting your Palmer car insurance rates can be quick and easy. All that’s required is to invest a little time comparing price quotes online from several insurance companies. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.
- The recommended way to get quotes is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This method prevents you from having to do multiple quote forms for each company you want a rate for. One form submission gets you price quotes from car insurance companies with the best prices. This is by far the quickest method.
- A less efficient way to compare prices is going to the website of each company to request a price quote. For example, let’s assume you want comparison quotes from Liberty Mutual, Farmers and GMAC. To get each rate you have to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to insurance companies in Palmer, click here.
- The hardest method of getting rate comparisons is to drive around to local Palmer insurance agencies. Buying insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you prefer the professional guidance of a licensed agent. However, consumers can find lower rates online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll touch on that later.
It’s up to you which method you use, but make sure you use identical coverages for every quote you compare. If your comparisons have mixed coverages you can’t possibly truly determine the lowest rate in Palmer.
Policy discounts you shouldn’t miss
Car insurance can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that you may not know about. A few discounts will automatically apply when you complete an application, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for in order for you to get them. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- New Car Discount – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Accident Free – Claim-free drivers can save substantially as compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Good Student Discount – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
- Driver Safety – Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
- Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off your medical payments premium.
- Theft Prevention System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Driver’s Ed – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.
- Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up prior to your current policy expiring. It’s a savings of about 10%.
A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will help reduce the cost of coverage.
To choose insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Alaska, follow this link.
But don’t I need an insurance agent?
Some consumers prefer to visit with an insurance agent. Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and give you peace of mind. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for local insurance agencies is especially important in Palmer.
Once you complete this quick form, the quote information is sent to local insurance agents in Palmer who will compete for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to drive around as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address.
Compare rates from both independent and captive auto insurance agents
When researching a reliable agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents that you can select. Palmer agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive). Either one can do a good job, but it’s important to know how they are different because it can impact buying decisions.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When shopping rates, we recommend you get quotes from several independent insurance agents for the best price selection. They also have the ability to place coverage with different regional companies who may have lower rates.
The following is a short list of independent insurance agents in Palmer that can give you comparison quotes.
- Valley Insurance Svc – 10913 N Palmer Fishhook – Palmer, AK 99645 – (907) 746-7374
- Combs Insurance Inc – 341 S Alaska St – Palmer, AK 99645 – (907) 745-2144
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents can only place business with one company like American Family, State Farm and Allstate. These agents are not able to compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. Captives are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Some people will only purchase coverage from captives primarily because of the brand legacy and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
Below are Palmer captive insurance agencies that are able to give price quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – Mile 3.2 Palmer Wasilla Hwy – Palmer, AK 99645 – (907) 746-0505
For a complete listing of car insurance agents in Palmer, please click here.
Picking an insurance agency should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Here are some questions to ask:
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
After receiving answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask and locked in a price quote, chances are good that you have found an insurance agency that is a good match to insure your vehicles. But keep in mind once you purchase a policy you can terminate coverage at any time so don’t feel you’re contractually obligated to your new company with no way out.
When might I need help?
When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different.
For example, these questions might point out whether or not you may require specific advice.
- Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
- Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
- What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Alaska?
- Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
- Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
Car insurance specifics
Understanding the coverages of your policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your vehicle.
Since many Alaska drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (Alaska limits are 50/100/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Normally these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for immediate expenses like surgery, rehabilitation expenses, funeral costs and nursing services. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. They cover you and your occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like hitting a deer, damage from getting keyed and falling objects. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Collision coverage
This coverage covers damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for things such as crashing into a ditch, rolling your car and driving through your garage door. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Auto liability insurance
Liability insurance can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Some companies may use a combined limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage pays for things such as loss of income, attorney fees and emergency aid. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. Alaska state law requires minimum liability limits of 50,000/100,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.
The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest
We just covered many ways to reduce car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the lowest premiums are with the smaller companies.
People change insurance companies for any number of reasons including being labeled a high risk driver, questionable increases in premium, poor customer service and extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a great new company is not as hard as you think.
When you buy insurance online, it’s not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that it was a big error on their part. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.
For more Alaska car insurance information
More information can be read on the Alaska Division of Insurance website. Click here for link. Consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, find disaster information, file complaints about a company, and discover disciplinary actions.
Additional helpful sites include this site for Alaska car insurance information and this list of agents in Palmer, AK.