No one in their right mind likes having to buy auto insurance, especially when the cost is too high. Numerous auto insurance companies battle for your insurance dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a company and get the definite lowest rate possible.
Don’t overlook these eight discounts
Auto insurance companies do not list every discount very clearly, so the following is a list of both the well known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.
- Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on one policy qualifies for this discount.
- College Student – Youth drivers who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
- Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to use their safety belts can save 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
- Good Students Pay Less – Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
- Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
- Save with a New Car – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Littleton, click here to view.
What if I want to buy from a local Littleton agent?
Some people prefer to visit with an insurance agent. Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find the best rates but also keep your business local.
Upon completion of this short form, your insurance data is sent to participating agents in Littleton who will give you bids for your coverage. You never need to drive around as quotes are delivered directly to your email.
Picking an insurer requires more thought than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
Best auto insurance agent in Littleton
When finding a reliable agent, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Littleton are either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both types can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the differences because it can influence the type of agent you choose
Agency Captives
These agents are contracted to one company such as Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They receive extensive training on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Listed below is a short list of captive agents in Littleton who may provide you with price quotes.
American Family Insurance – 1840 W Littleton Blvd – Littleton, CO 80120 – (303) 504-4825
Allstate Insurance – 10184 W Belleview Ave # 210 – Littleton, CO 80127 – (303) 933-0023
Farmers Insurance Group – 2606 W Alamo Ave – Littleton, CO 80120 – (303) 795-1115
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 537 W Highlands Ranch Pkwy # 1 – Littleton, CO 80129 – (303) 346-0028
State Farm Insurance – 5125 S Kipling St # 208 – Littleton, CO 80127 – (303) 932-8876
Shelter Insurance – 8906 W Bowles Ave # 200 – Littleton, CO 80123 – (303) 904-9889
Independent Agencies or Brokers
These agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. 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, it’s a good idea to include at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.
Shown below is a list of independent agencies in Littleton that are able to give rate quotes.
Stephanie Cochran Agency – 8081 S Broadway # B – Littleton, CO 80122 – (303) 738-1233
Gary Audi Agency Inc – 5797 S Rapp St – Littleton, CO 80120 – (303) 794-0738
BW Insurance Agency – 7293 W Walden Dr – Littleton, CO 80128 – (303) 973-5394
American Republic Insurance Co – 26 W Dry Creek Cir – Littleton, CO 80120 – (303) 996-4355
Entrepreneur Insurance – 26 W Dry Creek Cir # 602 – Littleton, CO 80120 – (303) 820-3430
For a complete listing of auto insurance agents in Littleton, visit this site.
Upon receiving satisfactory answers to these questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that will properly service your auto insurance policy. Keep in mind once you purchase a policy you can cancel a policy at any time so never feel that you’re stuck with your new company with no way to switch.
Do drivers who switch really save $493 a year?
Consumers in Colorado constantly see and hear ads for car insurance savings from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and Geico. All the ads make the same claim that you can save if you change your coverage to them.
How can each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.
All companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and therefore will save when switching.
Drivers who don’t qualify for this ideal profile will be quoted higher premiums and this can result in business not being written. The ads state “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. This emphasizes why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.
Coverage specifics
Having a good grasp of auto insurance aids in choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. These are typical coverage types found on the average auto insurance policy.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a bird, a broken windshield, hitting a deer and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Medical costs insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for things like chiropractic care, dental work, hospital visits and rehabilitation expenses. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Auto collision coverage
Collision insurance pays for damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims such as damaging your car on a curb, crashing into a ditch and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
UM/UIM Coverage
This gives you protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your vehicle.
Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/15 in Colorado), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important.
Liability car insurance
This provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have liability limits of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as medical expenses, structural damage, court costs, legal defense fees and emergency aid. 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. Colorado requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/15,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
More detailed Colorado auto insurance information can be found at the Colorado DORA Division of Insurance website. Colorado consumers can learn about insurance regulations, find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, and discover disciplinary actions.
And the best car insurance company is…
Lower-priced auto insurance can be bought on the web as well as from independent agents in Littleton, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, an accident victim reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.