Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can empty your personal savings and force you to prioritize other expenses. Doing a price comparison is free and is an excellent way to help make ends meet. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Geico and Farmers Insurance continually bombard you with catchy ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
If you have insurance now or are just looking to switch companies, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding affordable coverage in Menasha is easy if you know what you’re doing. Wisconsin drivers just need to know the proper way to find the lowest price over the internet.
Quick Menasha Car Insurance Quotes
Shopping for lower car insurance rates can be a daunting task if you don’t know the most efficient way to do it. You could waste a few hours talking about coverages with agents in Menasha, or you can stay home and use online quotes to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.
Many popular insurance companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and each company can give them a price. This system prevents you from having to do quote requests to each individual car insurance company.
To get comparison pricing now click here (opens in new window).
The one downside to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify which carriers you want pricing from. So if you want to select individual companies to compare, we put together a list of low cost car insurance companies in Wisconsin. View list of Wisconsin insurance companies.
Which method you use is up to you, but ensure you’re using the exact same coverage information for each comparison quote. If you compare differing limits then you won’t be able to find the best deal in Menasha.
Do you qualify for a discount?
Car insurance is not cheap, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. Most are applied at the time of quoting, but some must be asked about before you get the savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
- Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies give back up to $50 simply for signing online.
- Payment Method – If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
- No Accidents – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay much less when compared with drivers who are more careless.
- Homeowners Discount – Being a homeowner can help you save on car insurance because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any amount of discount will cut your premiums.
To choose insurers offering car insurance discounts in Menasha, click this link.
Buying car insurance from a local agent
Some consumers would prefer to talk to a local agent and that is OK! Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find lower rates but also keep your business local. Supporting local businesses is important especially in Menasha.
After completing this quick form, your information is immediately sent to companies in Menasha who will return price quotes for your coverage. There is no need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox.
Types of insurance agents
When researching a local agent, there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Agents are either independent or captive. Both types can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning how they differ since it can impact buying decisions.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
These agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.
Below is a list of independent agencies in Menasha who can help you get comparison quotes.
AIS Assoc Insurance Specs – 1487 Kenwood Ctr – Menasha, WI 54952 – (920) 729-7028
James C Early Agency Inc – 851 Racine St – Menasha, WI 54952 – (920) 725-7711
Isc-Rippel/Manier Insurance – 333 1st St # D – Menasha, WI 54952 – (920) 722-2799
Mc Clone Agency Inc – 150 Main St # 102 – Menasha, WI 54952 – (920) 725-3232
Tara Schultz Agency – 1981 Midway Rd # C – Menasha, WI 54952 – (920) 731-8700
Captive Agents
Captive agents can only write with one company like State Farm, Allstate and AAA. These agents are not able to provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which can be an advantage.
The following is a short list of captive insurance agents in Menasha willing to provide comparison quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 514 Racine St – Menasha, WI 54952 – (920) 722-2896
To view a full list of captive agents in Menasha, please click here.
Selecting an insurance agent should depend on more than just the price. Here are some questions to ask:
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- How are claims handled?
- How long has their agency been open in Menasha?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
After receiving positive feedback to any questions you have in addition to an acceptable price estimate, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that is a good match to properly insure your vehicles. Keep in mind policyholders can cancel a policy at any point so don’t assume that you are obligated to any specific agency with no way to switch.
But I don’t know anything about car insurance
When it comes to choosing coverage, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if you could use an agent’s help.
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
- Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
- What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
- Should I buy only the required Wisconsin minimum liability coverage?
- Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
- How much liability coverage do I need in Wisconsin?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.
More information is located on the website for the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance found here. Wisconsin drivers can report car insurance fraud, find disaster information, and read state legal mandates and laws.
Is there truth in advertising?
Wisconsin consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by Allstate, Geico and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim that you can save if you change to their company.
But how can every company make almost identical claims?
All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer could be between 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has great credit. Any new insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and most likely will save quite a bit of money when switching.
Consumers who don’t qualify for this ideal profile will be charged higher premiums and this can result in business not being written. The ads state “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do.
That is why you absolutely need to get as many quotes as possible. It’s impossible to know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.
Car insurance coverage breakdown
Learning about specific coverages of a car insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the usual coverages available from car insurance companies.
Comprehensive auto coverage – Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as vandalism, hitting a deer, theft and hail damage. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Medical payments and PIP coverage – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for short-term medical expenses for things like pain medications, funeral costs and rehabilitation expenses. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Auto liability – Liability coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people in an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see policy limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability insurance covers things such as structural damage, medical services and attorney fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. Wisconsin state minimum liability requirements are 50,000/100,000/55,000 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and damage to your vehicle.
Since many Wisconsin drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 50/100/55), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Collision coverages – This will pay to fix damage to your vehicle from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers things such as rolling your car, sustaining damage from a pot hole and scraping a guard rail. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
A little work can save a LOT of money
We just presented a lot of information how to lower your car insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers may even find the lowest priced car insurance comes from a small local company. Smaller companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like State Farm and Allstate.
Discount car insurance can be bought both online and with local Menasha insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where an insured dropped liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.