Nobody I know likes having to buy car insurance, especially knowing they could find better rates elsewhere. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, Geico and Progressive increase brand awareness with ads and it can be hard to see past the corporate glitz and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
You have control over your car insurance premiums
Lots of things are used when you get your auto insurance bill. Some of the criteria are obvious like a motor vehicle report, but other criteria are less apparent such as your marital status or how safe your car is.
The items below are a partial list of the pieces used by insurance companies to determine your rate level.
- Accidents inflate premiums – Whether or not you get tickets impacts premiums far more than you think. Drivers who don’t get tickets have lower premiums compared to bad drivers. Having a single citation can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who have received dangerous violations like DUI or willful reckless driving might be required by their state to maintain a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
- Where you live plays a part – Residing in areas with lower population may provide you with better prices when insuring your vehicles. People who live in big cities regularly have much more traffic and a longer drive to work. Less people translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
- Put fewer miles on your vehicle – The more you drive annually the more you will pay for car insurance. Most insurance companies rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting can be on a lower rate level than vehicles that are driven to work every day. It’s a smart idea to ensure your car insurance coverage states the correct driver usage.
- lapses raise prices – Not having insurance is against the law and any future policy may cost more because you let your insurance coverage expire. And not only will insurance be more expensive, the inability to provide proof of insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with the North Dakota DMV.
- Rates can drop if you have more than one policy – Most larger insurers allow a discount to people who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be as much as ten percent or more Even if you qualify for this discount already, drivers will still want to compare other insurance prices to help guarantee you have the best rates. Drivers may still find lower rates by buying from different companies
- Teenage drivers cost more – Youthful drivers in North Dakota are statistically proven to be less responsible when driving with friends and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher. Parents adding a teen driver to your car insurance policy can cause a big jump in price. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.
More discounts mean lower premiums
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can help lower your rates. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but less common discounts must be requested specifically before being credited.
- Military Discounts – Having an actively deployed family member can result in better premium rates.
- Claim Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories get the best car insurance rates in comparison with bad drivers.
- Auto/Life Discount – Not all companies offer life insurance, but some may give you a break if you buy some life insurance too.
- Online Discount – Some of the larger companies will give a small break for buying your policy digitally online.
- Own a Home – Just being a homeowner can save you money because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
One last thing about discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Despite the appearance that it’s possible to get free car insurance, nobody gets a free ride.
If you would like to view insurers that offer some of these discounts in Hankinson, follow this link.
Compare rates but buy from a local Hankinson insurance agent
Some people would prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and doing so can bring peace of mind One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is that you can find the lowest rates and also buy local. And providing support for neighborhood agents is important particularly in Hankinson.
Upon completion of this short form, your coverage information is sent to participating agents in Hankinson who can give free rate quotes to get your business. There is no need to drive around as quotes are delivered to you directly. You can find the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to. In the event you want to get a price quote from a specific car insurance provider, feel free to search and find their rate quote page and fill out their quote form.
Two types of auto insurance agents
If you are wanting to purchase car insurance from a good Hankinson insurance agent, it can be helpful to understand the types of agencies and how they operate. Agencies in Hankinson may be either captive agents or independent agents.
Independent Insurance Agents
These type of agents do not write with just one company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, they can switch companies in-house which requires no work on your part.
If you need lower rates, you need to contact independent agents for maximum quote selection.
The following is a small list of independent insurance agencies in Hankinson who may be able to give you free car insurance quotes.
4-U Insurance – 327 Main Ave S – Hankinson, ND 58041 – (701) 242-7724
Hankinson Insurance – 321 Main Ave S – Hankinson, ND 58041 – (701) 242-7822
Captive Agencies
Captive agents can usually just insure with one company and some examples include AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. They usually cannot compare rates from other companies so always compare other rates. Captives receive a lot of sales training on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage.
Choosing a car insurance agent should include more criteria than just a low price. These are some questions you should get answers to.
- Is the agency covered by Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Hankinson?
- Are they actively involved in the community?
- Where would glass claims be handled in Hankinson?
- Which company do they place the most coverage with?
Car insurance companies are expert advertisers
Popular car insurance providers such as Geico, State Farm and Progressive seem to constantly run ads on TV and radio. All the ads seem to make the promise that drivers will save a bundle if you switch to them. Is it even possible that every company can charge you a lower premium? Just pay attention to how they say it.
Car insurance companies can use profiling for the type of customer that earns them the most money. For example, a desirable insured should be a female over age 40, insures multiple vehicles, and does not commute to work. Any person that meets those criteria receives the best rates and will most likely save a lot if they switch.
People who are not a match for the ideal profile may be forced to pay a higher rate which leads to the customer not purchasing. The ads state “drivers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That is how companies can make those statements.
This really emphasizes why you should quote coverage with many companies. It is just not possible to predict which insurance companies will be your best fit.
Car insurance is unique, just like you
When choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions could help you determine whether you might need professional guidance.
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Is North Dakota a no-fault state?
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
- Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
- Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Additional car insurance information can be read on the North Dakota Insurance Department website located here. North Dakota consumers can report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, and learn about specific coverages.
Final considerations
Affordable car insurance is attainable from both online companies and with local Hankinson insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who may not have internet price quotes and many times these regional carriers work with independent insurance agents.
We covered a lot of ways to get a better price on car insurance. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get auto insurance rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the best rates are with the least-expected company. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate, Geico and Progressive.