Baffled by the sheer number of auto insurance companies that you can choose from? You’re not alone. You have such a large number of options that it can really be a difficult challenge to locate the lowest prices. Salem has many things to offer, but having to pay for pricey auto insurance can make it nearly impossible for many drivers to pay for enough auto insurance coverage.
If you have a current auto insurance policy or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates while maximizing coverage. Pricing affordable coverage in Salem is quite easy. South Dakota drivers just need to learn the most effective way to compare company rates on the web.
Effectively comparing auto insurance prices can be a lot of work if you don’t utilize the easiest way. You can spend countless hours discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Salem, or you could save time and use online quotes to quickly compare rates.
Most of the larger companies belong to a marketplace where insurance shoppers only type in their quote data once, and at least one company returns a competitive quote based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing quotation requests for every auto insurance company.
To compare rates using this form now click here to start a free quote.
The only downside to using this type of system is that you can’t choose the companies you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose specific insurance companies to compare rates, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in South Dakota. Click to view list.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but make sure you compare the exact same coverages for each comparison quote. If you enter different coverage information it will be next to impossible to make a fair comparison in Salem.
Lower rates by qualifying for these nine discounts
Auto insurance is easily one of your largest bills, but companies offer discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you complete an application, but some must be manually applied before being credited.
- Payment Discounts – If you can afford to pay the entire bill as opposed to paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with ABS and/or traction control can avoid accidents so companies give up to a 10% discount.
- Discount for Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle up before driving can save up to 15% off the PIP or medical payment premium.
- Drive Safe and Save – Safe drivers may receive a discount up to 45% compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Require your teen driver to enroll and complete driver’s education in school or through a local driver safety program.
- College Student – Children who are enrolled in higher education away from home without a vehicle on campus may be insured at a cheaper rate.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Select companies reward you with lower prices if you buy life insurance.
- Defensive Driving Course – Completing a course in defensive driver can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
A little disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way.
Auto insurance companies that may have these money-saving discounts include:
Before buying, ask every prospective company what discounts are available to you. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered in Salem. If you would like to view providers that offer the discounts shown above in Salem, click here.
Auto insurance is unique, just like you
When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique.
For instance, these questions might help in determining whether or not you might need professional guidance.
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
- When would I need rental car insurance?
- Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
- Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
- Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Salem?
- Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.
Additional auto insurance information can be read on the . Click here for link. South Dakota drivers can get help finding coverage, find out which companies have the most complaints, and report car insurance fraud.
Other related articles:
Auto insurance coverages explained
Learning about specific coverages of your policy can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
UM/UIM Coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (South Dakota limits are 25/50/25), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.
Medical costs insurance
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for short-term medical expenses such as chiropractic care, funeral costs, ambulance fees and rehabilitation expenses. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Auto liability insurance
Liability insurance provides protection from damage that occurs to a person or their property. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see liability limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined limit which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability insurance covers claims like structural damage, funeral expenses, attorney fees and court costs. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. South Dakota requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as falling objects, hitting a deer, rock chips in glass, hitting a bird and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Auto collision coverage
Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers claims like backing into a parked car, crashing into a building and hitting a parking meter. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
And the best auto insurance company is…
Lower-priced auto insurance is available online in addition to local insurance agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small, regional companies sell through local independent agents.
You just learned many ways to get a better price on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
As you , it’s not a good idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out they didn’t have enough coverage. Your objective should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate.