Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of auto insurance options in Pocatello? Many other drivers are as well. Consumers have so many choices that it can turn into a challenge to find lower rates.
Do you qualify for a discount?
Car insurance companies don’t always advertise every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the more common and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
- Discount for Good Grades – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
- Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Homeowners Pay Less – Owning a home in Pocatello can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Accident Forgiveness – A few companies will forgive one accident without raising rates as long as you don’t have any claims for a set time period.
Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it doesn’t quite work that way.
To choose insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Pocatello, click this link.
Car Insurance through a local agent
Some people would rather sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Agents can help determine the best coverages and give you peace of mind. The best thing about comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, your coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox.
Choosing an provider should depend on more than just a cheap price. Here are some questions to ask:
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
The difference between Pocatello auto insurance agents
When looking for an insurance agent, there are a couple of different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Pocatello are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s worth mentioning the difference between them since it may influence the type of agent you choose
Agency Captives
Captive agents can only write with one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. Captive agencies receive extensive training on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers frequently buy from captive agents partially due to loyalty to the company and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
Below is a short list of captive insurance agents in Pocatello who can help you get price quote information.
- State Farm Insurance – 1023 Yellowstone Ave # F – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 233-6333
- Allstate Insurance – 416 S 5th Ave # A – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 234-1659
- Farmers Insurance Group – 153 Jefferson Ave – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 233-7191
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 200 W Alameda Rd – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 233-9442
- American Family Insurance – 444 Hospital Way # 701 – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 239-6060
Independent Agents
Independent agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to contact multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from.Many can place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can be an advantage.
Below is a list of independent agencies in Pocatello willing to provide rate quotes.
- Insurance Designers – 477 Taft Ave – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 234-0550
- Idaho State Insurance Fund – 353 N 4th Ave # 280 – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 236-6412
- Allen Collins Agency – 1219 Yellowstone Ave # E – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 237-9183
- Chad Whyte Agency – 1155 Yellowstone Ave # C – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 237-5000
To view a full list of insurance agents in Pocatello, view this link.
Once you have positive responses and a low price estimate, most likely you have located an insurance agent that is a good match to provide auto insurance coverage. Just keep in mind policyholders can terminate coverage at any point so never assume that you are obligated to your new company for the entire policy term.
Don’t believe everything you hear
Consumers in Idaho can’t get away from ads that promise big savings by Allstate, Geico and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing that you’ll save big if you switch to their company.
How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.
Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a profitable customer could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and most likely will save a lot of money.
Potential customers who don’t meet the “perfect” profile must pay higher prices and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. This is how companies can claim big savings. This illustrates why drivers must get as many comparisons as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.
What auto insurance coverages do you need?
Knowing the specifics of auto insurance can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your vehicle.
Since many Idaho drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (20/50/15), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Liability insurance
This coverage protects you from damage that occurs to other people or property in an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 bodily injury coverage, $100,000 for the entire accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability can pay for things like attorney fees, court costs and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as much as you can afford. Idaho requires drivers to carry at least 20,000/50,000/15,000 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
Coverage for medical expenses
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for rehabilitation expenses, ambulance fees, X-ray expenses, dental work and surgery. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision protection
This coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things such as scraping a guard rail, crashing into a ditch and sustaining damage from a pot hole. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive auto insurance
Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hitting a deer, hail damage and theft. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Even more information can be found at the Idaho Department of Insurance website. Idaho drivers can learn about specific coverages, find out which companies have the most complaints, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
Other informative sites include BankRate.com’s Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this page of Pocatello insurance agents.
Buy online or local, you save
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that it was a big error on their part. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
You just read a lot of ways to lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from the least-expected company.
Insureds switch companies for many reasons like lack of trust in their agent, extreme rates for teen drivers, denial of a claim and an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a new company is easier than you think.