Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of auto insurance company choices in Castle Rock? You have a lot of company. You have so many choices that it can quickly become a real hassle to find lower rates.
Compare Auto Insurance Today
When shopping for auto insurance there are multiple ways of comparing rate quotes and find the best price. The best method to find the lowest rates is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.
- The single most time-saving way to get the best comparison quotes is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This easy form eliminates the need for separate forms for each company you want a rate for. A single form compares rates from auto insurance companies with the best prices. This is by far the quickest method.
- A more difficult way to compare prices consists of visiting each company’s website to complete their respective quote request forms. For example, we’ll pretend you want to compare Nationwide, Allstate and Geico. You would have to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a handy list of car insurance company links in Castle Rock, click here.
- The most time-consuming way of comparing rate quotes is to spend your day driving to insurance agents’ offices. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you have a need for the professional guidance of a licensed agent. It is possible to find lower rates online and still use a local agent. We’ll cover that shortly.
Which method you use is up to you, but compare apples-to-apples coverages and limits with each company. If you use different values for each quote you can’t possibly make an equal comparison in Castle Rock. Just a small difference in coverages can result in a big premium difference. And when price shopping your coverage, obtaining a wide range of quotes will enable you to find lower pricing.
Save $381 a year? Really?
Auto insurance providers like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all have a common claim that you’ll save big after switching to them. But how can every company say the same thing?
Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a driver they prefer might be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has a high credit rating. Any driver that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.
Potential customers who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile will be quoted higher premiums which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings.
This emphasizes why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.
Cut your premium with these seven discounts
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but discounts can save money and there are some available that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for before being credited.
- Sign Early and Save – Select companies give a discount for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. It can save you around 10%.
- Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
- Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Claim Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially when compared with drivers who are more careless.
- Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to certain professional organizations could trigger savings when buying auto insurance.
- Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for reduced rates.
- Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with one company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your premiums.
To see a list of insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Colorado, click this link.
Aren’t my neighborhood agents an option?
A small number of people just want to get advice from a local agent. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent. And supporting small agencies is especially important in Castle Rock.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will compete for your insurance coverage. There is no need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered directly to your email. Get lower rates AND a local agent.
Compare rates from both independent and captive car insurance agents
When finding a good Castle Rock insurance agent, there are two different types of agents from which to choose. Castle Rock agents are either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Agents
These agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, you should always get quotes from at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller companies who may have lower rates.
Shown below is a short list of independent agencies in Castle Rock that may be able to provide competitive price quotes.
- Herrington Agency – 425 S Wilcox St # 300 – Castle Rock, CO 80104 – (303) 663-4545
- Musell Agency Inc – 840 Kinner St # A – Castle Rock, CO 80109 – (303) 660-1121
- Barry Amsler Agency – 513 Wilcox St # 200 – Castle Rock, CO 80104 – (303) 663-1555
- Co West Insurance John Anna – 823 S Perry St – Castle Rock, CO 80104 – (303) 529-0350
- Insurance Town and Country – 513 Wilcox St # 200 – Castle Rock, CO 80104 – (303) 688-1251
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents work for only one company and some examples include State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They generally cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captives are trained well on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents. Some people will only buy insurance from these agents partially due to the brand legacy and strong financial ratings.
The following are Castle Rock captive agencies who can help you get price quote information.
- American Family Insurance – 405 S Wilcox St # 301 – Castle Rock, CO 80104 – (303) 663-1166
- Farmers Insurance Group – 314 Elbert St – Castle Rock, CO 80104 – (303) 663-0181
- Allstate Insurance – 201 S Wilcox St # 2a – Castle Rock, CO 80104 – (303) 688-1966
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 401 S Wilcox St # 101 – Castle Rock, CO 80104 – (303) 688-5193
- State Farm Insurance – 4765 Front St # C – Castle Rock, CO 80104 – (303) 660-3410
For a full directory of captive agents in Castle Rock, visit this site.
Selecting an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Here are some questions to ask:
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
Upon getting acceptable answers to all your questions and an affordable coverage quote, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that can provide auto insurance coverage. But remember, consumers can cancel your coverage whenever you wish so never feel you are locked into any particular company with no way out.
You are unique and your auto insurance should be too
When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.
For example, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.
- Is Colorado a no-fault state?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
- Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
- When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
- Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
- Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Castle Rock?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.
Much more information about auto insurance in Colorado is available on the Colorado DORA Division of Insurance website. Click here for link. Consumers can find disaster information, download brochures, view agent and company licensing information, and learn about insurance regulations.
Auto insurance coverages explained
Having a good grasp of your auto insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Comprehensive auto coverage
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like vandalism, falling objects, damage from getting keyed and hitting a deer. The most 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 it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Liability auto insurance
This coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to other people or property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see values of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage protects against claims like court costs, legal defense fees and medical expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. Colorado state minimum liability requirements are 25,000/50,000/15,000 but drivers should carry higher limits.
Collision protection
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as hitting a mailbox, rolling your car, damaging your car on a curb, sideswiping another vehicle and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
This gives you protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many Colorado drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/15 in Colorado), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Frequently these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for bills for things like prosthetic devices, hospital visits and pain medications. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
One last thing
People change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including policy non-renewal, being labeled a high risk driver, not issuing a premium refund or delays in responding to claim requests. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new company can be easy and end up saving you some money.
When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price while still protecting your assets.
Cost effective auto insurance is possible online and also from your neighborhood Castle Rock agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers may not provide online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.