I can’t think of a single person who rejoices having to buy car insurance, especially when the cost is too high. Multiple car insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every provider to discover the definitive lowest rate possible.
Finding a better price on car insurance isn’t really that difficult. All that’s required is to invest a few minutes to compare rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. Insurance prices can be quoted in several different ways.
- One of the fastest ways to find low rates is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This form eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for each company. One simple form will return price quotes instantly.
- A different way to analyze rates requires a trip to the website of each company and go through the quote process again. For example, let’s assume you need rates from State Farm, Liberty Mutual and Progressive. To get each rate you have to spend time on each company’s site and punch in your information repeatedly, and that’s why the first method is more popular.
To view a list of companies in Lone Tree, click here.
- The last method to comparison shop is physically going to local Lone Tree insurance agencies. Buying insurance online reduces the need to sit down with an agent unless you have a complicated situation and need the peace of mind that only an agent can give. Some companies do allow you to compare the best prices online and get advice from an agent in your area.
It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make darn sure you compare nearly identical deductibles and coverage limits with every price quote. If you compare higher or lower deductibles it’s impossible to make an equal comparison in Lone Tree.
These ten discounts can reduce car insurance rates
Car insurance is easily one of your largest bills, but there are discounts available that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Certain credits will be shown when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically before you get the savings.
- Good Grades Discount – A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students until age 25.
- Military Deployment Discount – Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower car insurance rates.
- Auto/Life Discount – Not all car insurance companies offer life insurance, but some may give you better premium rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
- Theft Prevention System – Vehicles optioned with advanced anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- E-sign Discounts</strong – Some car insurance companies will provide an incentive online.
- Early Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you can avoid monthly service charges.
- Discount for New Cars – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper because newer models are generally safer.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts may be able to save a few bucks off the PIP or medical payment premium.
- Senior Citizens – Drivers over the age of 55 are able to get a discount up to 10%.
- Discount for Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of 25 to 30%.
Don’t be shocked that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you aren’t that lucky.
Companies and the discounts they provide include:
- Geico offers discounts for emergency military deployment, multi-vehicle, driver training, air bags, military active duty, seat belt use, and federal employee.
- MetLife may offer discounts for defensive driver, good student, good driver, multi-policy, accident-free, claim-free
- Progressive may have discounts that include homeowner, good student, continuous coverage, multi-policy, online signing, online quote discount, and multi-vehicle.
- Travelers policyholders can earn discounts including driver training, student away at school, save driver, good student, and multi-car.
- SAFECO has savings for teen safety rewards, multi-car, homeowner, teen safe driver, and anti-theft.
- AAA discounts include good driver, education and occupation, AAA membership discount, anti-theft, multi-policy, and multi-car.
When getting a coverage quote, ask each company which discounts you qualify for. Savings may not be available in every state. To see car insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Lone Tree, click here.
Car insurance is available from local agents
Many drivers prefer to go talk to an agent and doing so can bring peace of mind Good insurance agents will help you protect your assets and help submit paperwork. A nice benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you may find cheaper rates and still buy from a local agent.
After completing this form (opens in new window), your information is instantly submitted to companies in Lone Tree that give free quotes for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to drive around since rate quotes are delivered directly to you. If you have a need to compare prices from one company in particular, feel free to go to their quote page and give them your coverage information.
Finding a good insurer should include more criteria than just a cheap quote. Below are some questions you should ask.
- Can you choose the body shop in case repairs are needed?
- Are they in the agency full-time?
- Do the agents have professional certifications like CPCU or CIC?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- When do they do policy reviews?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Does the agency have a current Errors and Omissions policy?
- How many companies do they write for?
When narrowing the list to find a local Lone Tree insurance agency, it can be helpful to understand the types of insurance agents and how they can service your needs differently. Car insurance agents in Lone Tree can be classified as either captive or independent agents depending on their company appointments. Either type can write policy coverage, but it’s important to know how they differ since it may influence which agent you choose.
Captive Agents
Agents in the captive channel can only place business with one company like American Family, State Farm, and AAA. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so they have no alternatives for high prices. They are very knowledgeable in insurance sales and that allows them to sell at a higher price point.
Independent Car Insurance Agents
Agents in the independent channel do not write with just one company so they can insure your vehicles with a variety of different insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move your policy to a different company and you don’t have to do anything.
When comparing car insurance prices, you will definitely want to get quotes from a couple of independent agencies in order to have the best price comparison.
Listed below is a list of independent insurance agents in Lone Tree willing to provide price quotes.
Isu Insurance – 9613 Las Colinas Dr – Lone Tree, CO 80124 – (303) 792-0296
John H Bussey Insurance Inc – 9231 E Lincoln Ave # 900 – Lone Tree, CO 80124 – (303) 768-9900
To view more licensed insurance agents in Lone Tree, you can visit this full listing of car insurance agents in Lone Tree.
More detailed Colorado car insurance information can be found at the Colorado DORA Division of Insurance website. Colorado consumers can download brochures, find out which companies have the most complaints, learn about specific coverages, and file complaints about a company.
Car insurance coverage basics
Understanding the coverages of car insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Car insurance terms can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find the usual coverages available from car insurance companies.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 25/50/15), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from a tornado or hurricane, damage from getting keyed and falling objects. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Collision protection
Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your vehicle caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against things such as rolling your car, damaging your car on a curb, colliding with another moving vehicle and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Auto liability
Liability coverage will cover damage that occurs to other’s property or people in an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability can pay for claims like loss of income, court costs, medical expenses, pain and suffering and medical services. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. Colorado requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/15,000 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for expenses such as chiropractic care, doctor visits, surgery, EMT expenses and X-ray expenses. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to you and your occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
In the end, you save
We just presented a lot of tips how to get a better price on car insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the best price on car insurance is with a small mutual company. Some small companies may have significantly lower premium rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or Geico.
As you , do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your objective should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.