I can’t think of a single person who likes paying for auto insurance, in particular when the price is too high. Big companies like Progressive, State Farm and Geico constantly blast consumers with ad campaigns and it can be hard to see past the geckos and flying pigs and find the best price available.
If you are insured now or need a new policy, you can use this information to get lower rates while maximizing coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Smithfield is not that difficult. Utah consumers just need to know the most effective way to compare rates over the internet.
Smithfield Auto Insurance Prices Online
Most major insurance companies allow you to get coverage prices online. Getting online quotes is pretty easy as you simply enter your required coverages as detailed in the form. Once entered, the company’s rating system pulls credit information and your driving record and quotes a price. This streamlines rate comparisons, but having to visit many different websites and complete many quote forms can be a bit repetitive. But it’s very important to do this in order to find better prices.
The quickest way to locate the lowest prices utilizes a single form that gets price quotes from a bunch of companies at once. The form is fast, eliminates form submissions, and makes online shopping much more enjoyable and efficient. As soon as you send your information, it gets priced and you can choose any one of the quotes that you receive. If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase the new policy. The entire process only takes a few minutes and may save quite a bit of money.
If you want to compare pricing, simply click here to open in new window and begin entering your coverage information. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you type in the insurance coverages identical to your current policy. This helps ensure you’re receiving a price comparison for similar insurance coverage.
Companies offer discounts so take them!
Companies offering auto insurance don’t list every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.
- Accident Forgiveness – A few companies permit an accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
- 55 and Retired – Mature drivers may receive reduced rates.
- Own a Home – Simply owning a home can save you money because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of more than 20%.
- Defensive Driving Course – Completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles could qualify for better rates on cars that stay parked.
- New Car Discount – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way.
To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Smithfield, click here to view.
Can’t I compare rates from local Smithfield agents?
Certain consumers prefer to visit with an insurance agent. Good agents can answer important questions and give you someone to call. The best thing about getting online price quotes is that you can obtain better rates but also keep your business local.
After completing this quick form, the coverage information gets sent to local insurance agents in Smithfield who will compete to get your business. You never need to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy!
Picking an insurance company should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask:
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
Compare rates from both independent and captive auto insurance agents
When looking for a local agent, you need to know there are two different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Smithfield agents are classified as either independent or captive. While both can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the differences because it can influence your agent selection.
Captive Insurance Agents
This type of agents are contracted to one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. These agents are not able to provide prices from multiple companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captives are well schooled on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage.
Below is a list of captive insurance agencies in Smithfield that are able to give comparison quotes.
Allstate Insurance – 21 S Main St – Smithfield, UT 84335 – (435) 563-3456
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
These agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, you should always contact multiple independent agents for the best price selection.
The following are Smithfield independent agents who can help you get comparison quotes.
Keith Fortie Insurance – 820 S Main St – Smithfield, UT 84335 – (435) 563-3236
Horace Mann Insurance Co – 572 E 420 S – Smithfield, UT 84335 – (435) 563-0510
For a full directory of auto insurance agents in Smithfield, please go to this site.
Once you have positive responses to all your questions and a good coverage price, chances are good that you have found an insurance agency that is a good match to properly insure your vehicles.
When should I talk to an agent?
When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
- Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
- Do I need rental car coverage?
- How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
- Does my vehicle need full coverage?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
- Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.
Learn How to Lower your Rates
Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.
The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate your rates.
- High credit ratings translate to low rates – Your credit score is a big factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with poor credit. If your credit score is low, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
- Lower rates come with age – More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers. Teen drivers have a tendency to be more careless when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
- Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart car theft.
- Performance level impacts rates – The performance level of the vehicle you drive makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates are for low performance passenger vehicles, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
- Don’t let your coverage lapse – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a fast way to increase your auto insurance rates. And not only will your rates increase, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a revoked license or a big fine.Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with the Utah DMV.
- The more you drive the more you pay – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year’s time the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.
- Traffic violations increase rates – Only having one moving violation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who don’t get tickets receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers with dangerous tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
Don’t believe everything you hear
Consumers in Utah constantly see and hear ads that promise big savings from the likes of Geico, State Farm and Progressive. They all have a common claim about savings if you change your coverage to them.
How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.
All the different companies can use profiling for the driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a profitable customer might be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer who fits that profile will get very good rates and most likely will save quite a bit of money when switching.
Potential customers who don’t qualify for the requirements will be charged higher premiums and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. That is why it is so important to get as many comparisons as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.
Buy online or local, you save
Budget-conscious auto insurance is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood Smithfield agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.
We’ve covered a lot of ways to lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Drivers may discover the lowest premiums are with a lesser-known regional company. They often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like Progressive or Geico.
More detailed Utah auto insurance information is located at the Utah Insurance Department website. Utah drivers can find out which companies have the most complaints, learn about specific coverages, and download brochures.
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