Confused by the wide range of auto insurance companies in Columbia Falls? You’re not alone. Consumers have so many choices that it can easily become a real challenge to compare prices.
If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates while maximizing coverage. Pricing the cheapest coverage in Columbia Falls is not that difficult. Montana drivers only need an understanding of the proper methods to buy auto insurance on the web.
How to Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in Columbia Falls, Montana
Reducing your insurance rates is surprisingly easy. Drivers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.
- The easiest and least time consuming way to get the best comparison quotes is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This form saves time by eliminating a different quote for each company. One form submission gets you price quotes from auto insurance companies with the best prices. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
- A less efficient way to obtain and compare quotes online requires you to visit each company’s website and complete a new quote form. For instance, let’s assume you want rates from Auto-Owners, Farmers and Geico. To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company’s site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Columbia Falls, click here.
- The hardest way to compare rates is driving to and from local Columbia Falls insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you require the professional guidance of a licensed agent. Drivers can comparison shop your insurance online and get advice from an agent in your area.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but double check that you are using the exact same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If you use different deductibles it will be very difficult to determine the lowest rate in Columbia Falls.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at quote time, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically before you will receive the discount. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you are throwing money away.
- Life Insurance Discount – Some companies give lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
- Safety Course Discount – Successfully completing a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
- Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than drivers with accidents.
- Lower Rates for Military – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
- Paperwork-free – A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.
For a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates in Montana, click here.
Car Insurance through a local agent
A small number of people would prefer to get advice from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and give you someone to call. The best thing about comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local businesses is important particularly in Columbia Falls.
Upon completion of this quick form, the coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents in Columbia Falls who will battle for your coverage. You won’t need to leave your house since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy!
If you wish to view licensed agents in Columbia Falls, go to this page.
Picking a company needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Some important questions to ask are:
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- How are they compensated?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
Upon getting reasonable responses to these questions and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an provider that can provide auto insurance coverage.
Buy Cheaper Auto Insurance with These Tips
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Understanding what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get better auto insurance rates.
- Multiple policies with one company can save – Most insurers will give a discount to customers who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be five, ten or even twenty percent. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still be able to find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
- Men are more aggressive – Statistics demonstrate women are more cautious behind the wheel. Now that doesn’t mean men are worse drivers. They both cause accidents at a similar rate, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also have more aggressive citations such as reckless driving.
- High credit ratings translate to low rates – Your credit history is a important factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. So if your credit is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with lower credit scores.
- Being married is a good thing – Having a spouse can actually save you money on your auto insurance policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature and responsible and it’s statistically proven that being married results in fewer claims.
- Do you have a high stress job? – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as real estate brokers, social workers and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates in part from stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, occupations such as scientists, students and homemakers receive lower rates.
More quotes mean more savings
We just covered many ways to get a better price on auto insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the lowest premiums are with an unexpected company.
Drivers leave their current company for any number of reasons including policy non-renewal, extreme rates for teen drivers, unfair underwriting practices and an unsatisfactory settlement offer. Whatever your reason, choosing a new company is actually quite simple.
Discount auto insurance can be bought online in addition to many Columbia Falls insurance agents, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
More information is located on the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website through this link. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, read consumer alerts, and find a variety of consumer forms.