Paying for expensive car insurance can stress out your accounts and possibly require you to analyze your spending habits. Price shopping at each renewal is a fast and free way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.
Big companies like Geico, Progressive and Allstate promote their brand names with ad campaigns and it can be hard to avoid their marketing magic and find the best price available.
If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can use this information to cut your premiums and possibly find even better coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Ionia is easy if you know what you’re doing. Michigan drivers only need an understanding of the tricks to shop on the web.
Cutting your Ionia car insurance rates can be quick and easy. All that’s required is to invest a few minutes to compare online with multiple companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished by following the guidelines below.
- The fastest and easiest way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This form prevents you from having to do multiple quote forms for every company. One form will get you price quotes from all major companies.
- Another way to obtain and compare quotes online is to manually visit the website of each company and repeat the quote process again and again. For sake of this example, let’s say you want to get rates from Farmers, Allstate and State Farm. In order to get each rate, you would have to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, and that explains why we recommend the first method. For a handy list of car insurance company links in Ionia, click here.
- The old school method to price shop rates is driving around to insurance agents’ offices. Comparing online rate quotes eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you have a complicated situation and need the trained advice of a local agency. However, consumers can comparison shop online but have your policy serviced through an agent.
How you compare quotes is your choice, just ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverages and limits on every quote you get. If you use different liability limits you will not be able to determine which company has the best rates in Ionia.
Informed drivers can cut their costs
A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing the different types of things that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. If you understand what determines premiums, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower premium levels.
Shown below are some of the most common factors used by your company to calculate your premiums.
- Remove unneeded add-on coverages – There are many extra coverages that may not really be needed but may not be useful. Coverages for personal injury protection, towing, and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but if you have no use for them eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
- Prices can change based on your address – Choosing to live in smaller towns and rural areas of the country may provide you with better prices if you are looking for the lowest rates. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. City drivers regularly have more aggressive driving styles and higher rates of accident claims. More time on the road can result in more accidents.
- Pleasure use or commuting – Driving a lot of miles in a year’s time the more you will pay for car insurance. Many insurance companies calculate rates based upon how much you drive. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your car insurance policy is rated on the right rating data, because it can save money.
- Physical damage deductibles are a factor – Insurance for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, helps pay for damage to your vehicle. Some examples of covered claims would be a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, and having your car stolen. Your deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay before your car insurance pays a claim. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
Discount Ionia car insurance rates
Car insurance can be pricey, but you may be missing some discounts to cut the cost considerably. Many discounts should be triggered at the time of quoting, but less common discounts must be specially asked for prior to receiving the credit.
- Homeowners Savings – Just owning your own home can save a few bucks since owning and maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
- Active Service Discounts – Having a deployed family member may lower your prices slightly.
- Telematics Devices – People who choose to allow their company to scrutinize their driving habits by installing a telematics device such as Progressive’s Snapshot might see lower rates as long as the data is positive.
- New Car Discount – Buying insurance on a new vehicle may earn a small discount because new vehicles are generally safer.
- Distant Student – Older children who are enrolled in higher education away from home without a vehicle on campus could get you a discount.
- Organization Discounts – Participating in a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Factory options such as air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts as much as 30%.
- Good Student – Excelling in school may save as much as 25% on a . This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
- E-sign Discounts</strong – Some larger companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
- Theft Deterent Discount – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Please keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Despite the appearance that it’s possible to get free car insurance, you won’t be that lucky.
A list of companies and their offered discounts are included below.
- Progressive includes discounts for good student, online signing, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, and homeowner.
- Farmers Insurance offers discounts for bundle discounts, youthful driver, alternative fuel, homeowner, and electronic funds transfer.
- Farm Bureau has discounts for multi-vehicle, driver training, multi-policy, renewal discount, and youthful driver.
- State Farm offers discounts including passive restraint, good student, multiple policy, Drive Safe & Save, safe vehicle, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and student away at school.
- Geico may have discounts that include membership and employees, federal employee, anti-lock brakes, air bags, military active duty, seat belt use, and multi-vehicle.
- SAFECO offers premium reductions for anti-theft, anti-lock brakes, multi-car, drive less, accident prevention training, and homeowner.
- Liberty Mutual may include discounts for newly married, newly retired, good student, multi-policy, new vehicle discount, and teen driver discount.
Before buying, ask every prospective company which credits you are entitled to. A few discounts may not be offered in your area. To find insurance companies that offer some of these discounts in Ionia, click here to view.
There’s no such thing as the perfect car insurance policy
When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions can help discover if your situation would benefit from professional advice.
- What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
- Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
- Does my vehicle need full coverage?
- Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
- When should I not file a claim?
- Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
- Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
- Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
- Do I need higher deductibles?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Shop online but buy locally
A small number of people would rather sit down and talk to an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Licensed agents are highly skilled in risk management and help file insurance claims. The best thing about price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find cheaper rates and still have a local agent. Buying insurance from local insurance agencies is definitely important in Ionia.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is sent to insurance agents in Ionia that give free quotes for your insurance coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. If for some reason you want to quote rates from a specific insurance company, just search and find their rate quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.
Insurance agent types
When researching a reputable agency, there are two types of agencies to choose from. Agents in Ionia are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive). Either type can write policy coverage, but it’s worth learning the difference between them since it may influence the selection process.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
These agents can sell policies from many different companies so they can write business with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.
When comparing rate quotes, it’s a good idea to include rate quotes from a few independent agents to get the most accurate price comparison.
Listed below are independent agencies in Ionia who may be able to give you price quote information.
Grand River Insurance – 287 S Steele St – Ionia, MI 48846 – (616) 527-6263
Carr Agency Inc – 115 W Main St – Ionia, MI 48846 – (616) 527-1200
Ionia County Insurance – 2113 S State Rd – Ionia, MI 48846 – (616) 527-3690
Captive Insurance Agencies
Agents in the captive channel normally can only provide a single company’s rates and examples are Allstate, AAA, Farmers Insurance, and State Farm. Captive agencies are unable to shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them sell on service rather than price.
Listed below is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Ionia who can help you get price quotes.
Farm Bureau Insurance – 272 E Main St – Ionia, MI 48846 – (616) 527-1777
State Farm Insurance – 2300 S State Rd – Ionia, MI 48846 – (616) 527-0440
To contact insurance agents in your neighborhood, here is a complete selection of Ionia Michigan insurance agents.
Choosing the best insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Before buying a policy, get answers to these questions.
- Is coverage determined by price?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- Are they able to provide referrals?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Ionia?
- How long have they been in business?
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
If you feel you receive acceptable answers to any questions you have as well as quotes, you may have just found an insurance agency that meets the criteria to provide car insurance coverage.
Best coverage at the best price
Discount car insurance can be purchased from both online companies and from local agencies, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not have the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small insurance companies prefer to sell through independent insurance agents.
While you’re price shopping online, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In too many instances, drivers have reduced full coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
More information is located on the located here. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, report car insurance fraud, view a list of available companies, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
Other informative sites include this resource for Michigan car insurance prices and this page of insurance agents in Ionia.