Finding better rates for Port Huron auto insurance can seem to be difficult for consumers new to shopping for insurance online. Consumers have so many options that it can quickly become a ton of work to find lower rates in Port Huron.
How much can you save with these nine discounts?
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but discounts can save money and there are some available to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of purchase, but some must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Drive Less and Save – Driving fewer miles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
- Accident Forgiveness – A handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
- Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies will give a small break simply for signing on their website.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
- Senior Citizens – Mature drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
- Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than less cautious drivers.
- Resident Student – Any of your kids who are attending college without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.
- Braking Control Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, you won’t be that lucky. But any discount will cut the cost of coverage.
For a list of insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Port Huron, follow this link.
How to Compare Auto Insurance in Port Huron
There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance quotes, but one way is less labor-intensive and much quicker. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Port Huron, or you can stay home and use online quoting to quickly compare rates.
All the larger companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers complete one form, and every company returns a rated price based on that information. This prevents consumers from doing form submissions for each company you want a rate for. To compare rates now click here (opens in new window).
One minor caviat to using this type of form is you cannot specify which insurance companies you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose from a list of companies to compare rates, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in Michigan. View list of Michigan insurance companies.
Whichever way you use, double check that you are using apples-to-apples deductibles and coverage limits for every company. If you enter higher or lower deductibles it’s not possible to truly determine the lowest rate in Port Huron.
Different people need different coverages
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s needs are different.
Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
- Is Michigan a no-fault state?
- Do I need higher deductibles?
- Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
- Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
- Do I need rental car coverage?
- Who is covered by my policy?
- Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.
Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent
Some people would rather get advice from a local agent and that is OK! Educated insurance agents can answer important questions and give you peace of mind. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you may find the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for small agencies is important especially in Port Huron.
To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, your coverage information is emailed to companies in Port Huron who will compete for your business. There is no need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy!
To view licensed agents in Port Huron, visit this link.
Picking an provider needs to be determined by more than just the price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- How are they compensated?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
Once you have received acceptable answers to any questions you have and a low price estimate, chances are good that you have found an insurance company that will adequately provide auto insurance.
Ads can be misleading
Michigan drivers can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim of big savings if you move to their company.
How can each company say the same thing?
All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 40 and 55, owns a home, and drives newer vehicles. A propective insured who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and most likely will save quite a bit of money when switching.
Consumers who don’t meet these standards will be charged higher rates which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.
That is why it is so important to get as many comparisons as possible. You cannot predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Car insurance coverages
Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.
Medical expense insurance – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for immediate expenses such as surgery, prosthetic devices, hospital visits and X-ray expenses. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers all vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Liability – This coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property in an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see values of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage pays for claims like repair costs for stationary objects, loss of income, emergency aid and court costs. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. Michigan requires drivers to carry at least 20,000/40,000/10,000 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.
Collision coverages – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as colliding with another moving vehicle, colliding with a tree, crashing into a ditch and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many Michigan drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (20/40/10), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as hail damage, hitting a bird, damage from flooding, fire damage and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
Drivers leave their current company for any number of reasons including high prices, not issuing a premium refund, delays in responding to claim requests and even poor customer service. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a new auto insurance company is not as difficult as it may seem.
Affordable auto insurance can be sourced online as well as from independent agents in Port Huron, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In too many instances, someone dropped collision coverage only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
More information can be found on the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to download brochures, learn about specific coverages, and find a variety of consumer forms.