Tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul to insure your vehicles every month? You are no different than millions of other consumers. Online insurance companies like Geico, Farmers Insurance and State Farm all claim big savings, bombarding you with ads and it can be hard to ignore the promise of big savings and find the best price available.
Fast and Easy Starkville Car Insurance Quotes
Finding a lower price on insurance can be quick and easy. The only thing you need to do is spend a few minutes on the computer getting comparison quotes online from several insurance companies. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.
The best way consumers can make multiple comparisons is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This easy form prevents you from having to do repetitive form entry for every car insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form gets you coverage quotes .
A harder way to compare rate quotes requires a trip to the website of each company to complete their respective quote request forms. For examples sake, we’ll pretend you want rates from Auto-Owners, Liberty Mutual and GMAC. To find out each rate you need to go to every website and enter your information, which is why most consumers use the first method. For a handy list of car insurance company links in Starkville, click here.
The hardest method to compare rates is driving to local insurance agencies. Buying insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the professional advice of a local agent. It is possible to get prices online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll talk about that later.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just ensure you’re using the exact same coverages and limits with each company. If you compare differing limits it’s not possible to truly determine the lowest rate in Starkville.
Save $418 a year? Really?
Consumers in Mississippi constantly see and hear ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of State Farm and Allstate. They all make the same claim of big savings if you change your coverage to them.
But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.
All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a profitable customer could be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and most likely will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Potential insureds who are not a match for this ideal profile will have to pay more money which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That’s why companies can truthfully make those claims.
Because of the profiling, you need to get as many comparisons as possible. It’s impossible to know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Are you getting all your discounts?
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not know about. Some discounts apply automatically when you quote, but less common discounts must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit. If you aren’t receiving every discount available, you are paying more than you should be.
- Senior Discount – If you’re over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
- Own a Home – Owning a home in Starkville can help you save on car insurance because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
- Anti-theft System – Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Safe Drivers – Safe drivers may receive a discount up to 45% less than drivers with accident claims.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
- Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
It’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any amount of discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.
To see a list of providers who offer car insurance discounts in Starkville, click here to view.
What happened to insurance agents?
Some people would prefer to sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about price shopping on the web is that you can obtain better rates but also keep your business local. Supporting small agencies is definitely important in Starkville.
After filling out this simple form, your insurance coverage information is emailed to agents in your area who will battle for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to drive around as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox.
What types of car insurance agents are in Starkville?
When finding a good Starkville insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Starkville can either be captive or independent. While both can do a good job, but it’s good to learn the difference between them because it can influence your selection of an agent.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, we recommend you include price quotes from several independent insurance agents for the best price selection.
Listed below are independent insurance agencies in Starkville that are able to give rate quotes.
Nationwide Insurance – 520 1/2 University Dr – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 324-2989
Starkville Insurance Inc – 307 E Main St – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 323-6914
Direct General Ins Agency – 210 Highway 12 W # C – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 320-7033
Agency Captives
Captive agencies write business for a single company such as AAA, Allstate and State Farm. They are unable to compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. Captives are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage.
Below is a short list of captive agents in Starkville that can give you comparison quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 600 Hogan St # 1c – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 323-8311
Shelter Insurance – 501 Highway 12 W # 120 – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 324-7800
Mississippi Farm Bureau Svc – 515 Academy Rd – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 323-4800
For a full directory of captive insurance agencies in Starkville, please view this page.
Selecting an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
Upon getting reasonable responses for all questions you ask and an affordable coverage quote, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that will properly service your car insurance policy. Just keep in mind once you purchase a policy you can cancel a policy any time you want so don’t assume that you are obligated to a policy for the entire policy term.
Auto insurance coverages
Knowing the specifics of your policy helps when choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find typical coverages found on the average car insurance policy.
Liability car insurance
Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is one number which is a combined single limit which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as court costs, structural damage, medical services, pain and suffering and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as much as you can afford. Mississippi requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
Comprehensive coverages
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like vandalism, a broken windshield, theft and damage from flooding. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Collision insurance
This coverage covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, driving through your garage door and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.
Coverage for medical payments
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for expenses for doctor visits, funeral costs, pain medications and rehabilitation expenses. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
This coverage provides protection from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Since many Mississippi drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (Mississippi limits are 25/50/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Normally these limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Additional information can be read on the website for the Mississippi Insurance Department through this link. Mississippi consumers can read industry bulletins, learn about specific coverages, find disaster information, and learn about insurance regulations.
A tidy conclusion
When you buy insurance online, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.
You just learned a lot of ways to reduce car insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the biggest savings come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. They may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like State Farm and Allstate.