Purchasing affordable Gothenburg auto insurance online may be problematic for people who are new to online price comaprisons. With such a large number of insurance companies available, how can Gothenburg drivers effectively compare them all to find the lowest rates?
You should take the time to compare rates at least once a year because rates tend to go up over time. If you had the lowest price last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance on the web, but with this article, you’re going to get some proven techniques to stop overpaying for insurance.
If you have a current auto insurance policy or are looking for a new policy, you can follow these tips to cut your premiums and possibly find even better coverage. Locating more affordable auto insurance in Gothenburg is simple if you know the tricks. Nebraska drivers just need to know the proper way to shop on the web.
How to Compare Gothenburg Auto Insurance Rates
Comparing auto insurance rates can take hours if you don’t know the fastest way to get free quotes. You can waste hours talking to local insurance agents in Gothenburg, or you could save time and use the web to quickly compare rates.
Most of the larger companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and each company provides a quote for coverage. This eliminates the need for quotation requests for every auto insurance company.
To access this free quoting program, click here to open in new window.
One minor caviat to using this type of system is you are unable to specify the providers to get quotes from. So if you prefer to choose individual companies to request quotes from, we have a page of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Nebraska. Click here for list of insurance companies in Nebraska.
It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make darn sure you compare exactly the same quote information for each comparison quote. If you enter higher or lower deductibles you can’t possibly determine the lowest rate in Gothenburg.
Do you qualify for these nine discounts?
Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied at quote time, but a few need to be requested specifically in order for you to get them. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Use Seat Belts – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
- Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
- Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Have your child take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
- Defensive Driver – Completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
- Club Memberships – Being a member of a professional or civic organization may earn a discount when buying auto insurance.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on the same auto insurance policy could earn a price break for each car.
- Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with a few auto insurance companies.
Consumers should know that most credits do not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you won’t be that lucky. But any discount will reduce the cost of coverage.
To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in Gothenburg, click here to view.
Won’t my local insurance agent miss me?
A small number of people prefer to get advice from a local agent. Professional agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates and still choose a local agent. Buying from local agencies is important especially in Gothenburg.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is transmitted to agents in your area who will battle for your insurance coverage. There is no need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address.
The different types of insurance agents
When looking for a good Gothenburg insurance agent, there are two different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Gothenburg are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive). Both insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know how they are different because it can impact the selection process.
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency.
When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection.Most can insure with different regional companies which can be an advantage.
Shown below is a short list of independent agents in Gothenburg that can give you rate quotes.
- Security First Insurance – 510 9th St – Gothenburg, NE 69138 – (308) 537-7125
- Yancy Insurance – 901 Lake Ave – Gothenburg, NE 69138 – (308) 537-7365
- Home Agency – 515 10th St – Gothenburg, NE 69138 – (308) 537-3511
Agency Captives
This type of agents work for only one company and examples are Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. Captives cannot give you multiple price quotes so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captives are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often purchase coverage from captives mainly due to loyalty to the company and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
The following are captive agents in Gothenburg that can give you rate quotes.
- Shelter Insurance – 828 Lake Ave – Gothenburg, NE 69138 – (308) 537-4214
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 408 10th St – Gothenburg, NE 69138 – (308) 537-2257
- State Farm Insurance – 2636 Northaven Dr – Gothenburg, NE 69138 – (308) 537-4310
To view a full list of Gothenburg captive agencies, go to this page.
Picking a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Some important questions to ask are:
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
Upon getting positive feedback and an affordable coverage quote, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that can insure your vehicles. Just keep in mind consumers can terminate your policy for any reason so don’t feel you are locked into any particular company with no way out.
Additional auto insurance information can be found on the Nebraska Department of Insurance website through this link. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, report car insurance fraud, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
Additional helpful sites include this page for auto insurance prices in Nebraska and this page of insurance agents in Gothenburg.
Are you falling for claims of savings?
Nebraska consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the ads make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you switch your coverage to them.
How can each company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.
Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that is profitable for them. For example, a profitable customer could possibly be a mature driver, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. Any driver who fits that profile receives the best rates and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.
Potential customers who do not match these standards will be charged a higher premium and ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.
That is why you absolutely need to get as many comparisons as possible. You cannot predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.
Detailed coverages of your auto insurance policy
Understanding the coverages of a auto insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Auto insurance terms can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your vehicle.
Since many Nebraska drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (25/50/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Collision coverage protection
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against claims like driving through your garage door, hitting a mailbox, sustaining damage from a pot hole and hitting a parking meter. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Coverage for medical expenses
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for expenses like funeral costs, surgery, pain medications and chiropractic care. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Comprehensive auto insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as damage from flooding, hitting a bird, rock chips in glass, falling objects and hail damage. The most your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Liability coverages
This protects you 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 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 bodily injury coverage, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which combines the three limits into one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, legal defense fees and court costs. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. Nebraska state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.
Final thoughts
When shopping online for auto insurance, never reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, drivers have reduced collision coverage only to find out that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
Lower-priced auto insurance can be purchased both online as well as from independent agents in Gothenburg, and you should compare price quotes from 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 most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.
Insureds switch companies for many reasons like being labeled a high risk driver, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, policy non-renewal and even extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider can be pretty painless.