Feel like you’re a prisoner to overpriced auto insurance? Believe me, there are lots of people in the same boat. Because you have many choices of insurance companies, it’s difficult to choose the right car insurance company.
Buying cheaper auto insurance coverage in Gladstone is quite easy. If you have a policy now or are shopping for new coverage, you can follow these tips to reduce the price you pay while maximizing coverage. Missouri consumers only need to know the proper way to shop on the web.
Don’t pay full price with these discounts
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, buy you may qualify for discounts to cut the cost considerably. Most are applied when you purchase, but some must be inquired about in order for you to get them. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
- Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
- Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially as compared to bad drivers.
- Student Driver Training – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
- Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
- Safety Course Discount – Completing a defensive driving course could save 5% or more if you qualify.
- Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% off your medical payments premium.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But any discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.
To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Missouri, follow this link.
Situations that might require an agent
When buying the best auto insurance coverage, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions can help discover whether or not you may require specific advice.
- Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
- Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
- Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
- Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
- Does my vehicle need full coverage?
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.
What happened to insurance agents?
Certain consumers just want to talk to a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find lower rates and still choose a local agent. Buying from local agencies is especially important in Gladstone.
Upon completion of this quick form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to companies in Gladstone who will return price quotes for your business. There is no reason to even leave your home as quotes are delivered directly to your email. How cool is that?!
Compare rates from both independent and captive insurance agencies
If you’re trying to find a good Gladstone insurance agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents to choose from. Insurance agencies in Gladstone are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Either one can write coverage properly, but it’s important to know the difference between them because it can influence the type of agent you choose
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When shopping rates, we recommend you include price quotes from several independent insurance agents for the best price selection.
The following is a list of independent agencies in Gladstone that are able to give rate quotes.
Bob Vaughn Insurance – 406 NE 68th St – Gladstone, MO 64118 – (816) 468-1800
American National Insurance Co – 5209 NE Antioch Rd – Gladstone, MO 64119 – (816) 413-7618
Agency Captives
Captive agents are contracted to one company and examples are State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
The following are Gladstone captive insurance agencies that can give you comparison quotes.
American Family Insurance – 5604 NE Antioch Rd – Gladstone, MO 64119 – (816) 452-8054
Shelter Insurance – 6022 NE Antioch Rd # 1 – Gladstone, MO 64119 – (816) 455-1234
Farmers Insurance Group – 7506 N Oak Trfy – Gladstone, MO 64118 – (816) 436-4424
State Farm Insurance – 6034 NE Antioch Rd – Gladstone, MO 64119 – (816) 452-1700
Allstate Insurance – 6651 N Oak Trfy # B – Gladstone, MO 64118 – (816) 436-3210
For a complete listing of Gladstone captive insurance agencies, simply jump to this page.
Choosing an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a low price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- Are they full-time agents?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
Upon receiving acceptable answers to any questions you have and an acceptable price quote, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that is a good match to service your policy.
Are you falling for claims of savings?
Missouri drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by Allstate, Geico and Progressive. They all have a common claim that you’ll save big if you move to their company.
How does each company say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.
Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that is profitable for them. An example of a driver they prefer could be over the age of 50, has no prior claims, and has a high credit rating. A customer who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.
Drivers who are not a match for these standards will be charged a higher premium which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s the way insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.
That is why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It’s just too difficult to predict which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Learn more about Missouri auto insurance
Additional auto insurance information can be read on the website for the Missouri Department of Insurance found here. Missouri consumers can view a list of available companies, discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about a company, and find disaster information.
Other informative sites include FindNewCarInsurance.com and this list of insurance agents in Gladstone, MO.
Affordable insurance is out there
Budget-conscious auto insurance is possible on the web as well as from independent agents in Gladstone, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are many occasions where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.