Scraping up a payment for overpriced car insurance can overdraw your bank account and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparing price quotes is free and is an excellent way to make sure you’re not throwing money away.
Because there are so many different company options, it can be hard to pick the most cost effective insurer.
Pay less by taking advantage of these eight discounts
Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise every available discount very well, so we break down both the well known and the more hidden car insurance savings.
- Life Insurance Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings of 20% or more.
- Homeowners Savings – Owning a house in New Town may trigger a car insurance policy discount because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
- Braking Control Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
- Theft Prevention System – Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Paperwork-free – A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
For a list of insurance companies with discount car insurance rates in New Town, click this link.
Your local neighborhood insurance agent
Some people would rather buy from a local agent. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you can get the best rates and still have an agent to talk to.
For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), the coverage information gets sent to agents in your area who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You never need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent directly to your email. Now that’s easy! It’s the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with.
Choosing a company shouldn’t rely on just the price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
Shown below is a list of car insurance companies in New Town that are able to give price quotes.
BBH Insurance – 401 5th St N, New Town, ND 58763 – (701) 627-4933
Reynolds Insurance – 301 Main St, New Town, ND 58763 – (701) 627-4293
Once you have received good answers to your questions and an acceptable price quote, you have narrowed it down to an provider that can properly service your car insurance policy.
Car insurance myths debunked
Allstate and Progressive consistently run ads in print and on television. All the companies make an identical promise about savings if you change to them. How do they all make almost identical claims?
Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a driver they prefer could be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when they switch companies.
Potential insureds who are not a match for the “perfect” profile will be charged higher rates and ends up with business not being written. The ads say “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. That is why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.
Even more information can be read at the North Dakota Insurance Department website. North Dakota drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, download brochures, read state legal mandates and laws, and find disaster information.
Car insurance coverage basics
Knowing the specifics of your policy aids in choosing the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are typical coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Coverage for collisions
This coverage covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers things such as hitting a mailbox, hitting a parking meter and damaging your car on a curb. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your vehicle.
Since many North Dakota drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/25), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as vandalism, damage from flooding, hitting a bird and theft. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for hospital visits, X-ray expenses, pain medications, chiropractic care and doctor visits. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability car insurance
This coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. It protects YOU from legal claims by others. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability insurance covers things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, repair costs for stationary objects, bail bonds, attorney fees and medical expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as much as you can afford. North Dakota state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
Compare but don’t skimp
The cheapest car insurance can be found from both online companies in addition to many New Town insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not provide online quoting and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.
As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don’t sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate.