Are you a victim of an overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us, many Laurel consumers feel financially strained by their auto insurance policy. You have so many insurers to choose from, and although it’s a good thing to have a selection, so many choices can make it hard to compare company pricing.
You need to do rate comparisons before your policy renews because prices tend to go up over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal last year you can probably find a lower rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the only way to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.
Discounts are available to cut your rates
Companies that sell car insurance don’t list every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Paperless Signup – A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy on their website.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Pay Upfront and Save – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
- Life Insurance – Some companies give better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
- Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
- Seat Belt Usage – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
- One Accident Forgiven – A handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Braking Control Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Club Memberships – Being a member of a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on auto insurance.
It’s important to note that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck.
For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Laurel, click here to view.
Auto Insurance Prices in Laurel, Montana
Finding lower auto insurance rates can be relatively painless. All that’s required is to spend a little time to compare quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.
The best way to get quotes for comparison would be an industry-wide quote request form click here to open form in new window. This type of form eliminates the need for a different quote for every auto insurance company. Filling out one form will get you price quotes direct from many companies.
A more difficult way to obtain and compare quotes online is going to the website for each individual company to complete a price quote. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you want to compare Geico, Allstate and State Farm. You would have to go to every website to input your insurance information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.
For a list of links to insurance companies in Laurel, click here.
The most time-consuming way of comparing rate quotes is to waste gas driving to insurance agents’ offices. The ability to buy insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you require the trained guidance of a licensed agent. It is possible to get the lowest quotes online and still use a local agent and we’ll touch on that later.
It’s up to you which method you use, but ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverages and limits for each price quote. If you compare different liability limits you will not be able to find the best deal in Laurel.
Car insurance is unique, just like you
When choosing the right insurance coverage, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
- Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
- Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
- Is pleasure use cheaper than using my vehicle to commute?
- Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
- What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
- Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.
Compare online but buy from a local Laurel agent
A small number of people just want to sit down with an agent and that is just fine! Educated insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about comparing rates online is that you can obtain lower rates but also keep your business local.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), the quote information is submitted to insurance agents in Laurel who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier!<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px;" src="https://www.carinsurancediy.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-113.jpg" alt="Laurel insurance quotes“/>
Choosing a company needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- Are they full-time agents?
- How long has their agency been in business in Laurel?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Montana?
Shown below are agents in Laurel who can help you get price quotes.
Harris Agency – 14 1st Ave, Laurel, MT 59044 – (406) 628-7951
Laurel Insurance – 12 3rd Ave, Laurel, MT 59044 – (406) 628-6353
State Farm Insurance – 21 1st Ave, Laurel, MT 59044 – (406) 628-8618
Farmers Insurance Group – 7 1st Ave, Laurel, MT 59044 – (406) 628-7007
Once you have received acceptable answers to these questions and a good coverage price, chances are good that you have found an insurance company that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.
Drivers who switch save $397 a year? Really?
Montana consumers constantly see and hear ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and Geico. All the companies make the same claim of big savings if you move your coverage to them.
How does each company make almost identical claims?
Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any driver who matches those parameters receives the best rates and most likely will save when switching.
Potential customers who do not match the “perfect” profile must pay a more expensive rate and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can claim big savings. This illustrates why it’s extremely important to get as many comparisons as possible. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.
Auto insurance coverage options
Knowing the specifics of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for expenses for things like pain medications, dental work and prosthetic devices. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability auto insurance
Liability coverage provides protection from damage that occurs to other’s property or people. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability can pay for things like legal defense fees, pain and suffering and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. Montana requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/10,000 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.
Coverage for collisions
This covers damage to your vehicle from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, damaging your car on a curb and colliding with a tree. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from flooding, hail damage, vandalism and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many Montana drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/10), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In too many instances, an insured cut physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to buy enough coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.
We covered a lot of information how to save on auto insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate, Geico and Progressive.
Additional consumer information websites
More detailed Montana auto insurance information is available at the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website. Consumers can find out industry alerts, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find disaster information, and read industry bulletins.