Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can dwindle your personal savings and make it impossible to make ends meet. Doing a price comparison is a smart way to tighten up your finances.
Big-name insurance companies like State Farm and Geico increase brand awareness with catchy ads and consumers find it hard to ignore the propoganda and find the best price available.
If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Wyoming is not rocket science. But Michigan consumers must understand how companies sell online and use this information to your advantage.
Comprehensive Wyoming Car Insurance Comparison Quotes
When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways to compare quotes from local in Wyoming, MIcar insurance companies. The easiest way by far to find the lowest rates is to get quotes online. This can be accomplished in several different ways.
One of the best ways consumers can analyze rates is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This method eliminates the need for separate quotes for each company. A single, simple form gets rate comparisons instantly.
A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online is spending the time to visit the website for every company you want to comare and fill out their own quote form. For instance, let’s say you want rates from State Farm, Safeco and Geico. You would have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to insurance companies in Wyoming, click here.
The most time-consuming method of comparing rate quotes to local Wyoming insurance agencies. Buying insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the professional guidance only provided by licensed Wyoming agents. You can, however, price shop online and still use a local agent and we’ll touch on that later.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but make darn sure you compare exactly the same information on every quote you get. If you are comparing different limits and deductibles on each one it’s not possible to make a fair comparison in Wyoming. Quoting even small variations in coverages may cause a big price difference. And when price shopping your coverage, having more price comparisons helps you find a lower rate.
Can you really save $494 a year?
Companies like State Farm, Allstate and Geico consistently run ads on TV and radio. All the ads have a common claim about savings if you change to them. How can each company say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.
Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer might be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.
Potential insureds who are not a match for these standards will have to pay higher premiums and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s why insurance companies can claim big savings.
Because of the profiling, it is so important to get as many comparisons as possible. It’s impossible to know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Smart Buyers can Save Money
It’s important that you understand the factors that help determine the price you pay for car insurance. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.
The following are some of the items companies use to determine rates.
- Lower rates with optional equipment – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
- Rate your vehicle for proper use – The more you drive each year the more you will pay for car insurance. Most companies charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your car insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage, because it can save money.
- Do you have a high stress job? – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Jobs such as lawyers, business owners and accountants tend to have higher rates than average attributed to stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. On the flip side, jobs such as actors, athletes and performers receive lower rates.
- Consolidate policies to earn discounts – The majority of insurers provide better rates to policyholders who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
- Where you live is a factor – Residing in a small town can be a good thing when talking about car insurance. Drivers in populated areas have to deal with much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
- Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your policy. Coverages for personal injury protection, towing coverage and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea initially, but if you don’t need them eliminate them to save money.
- Adjust deductibles and save – Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, or theft. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
- Poor driving leads to higher costs – Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums than people who have multiple driving citations. Just one speeding ticket may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers who get severe violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Save big with these discounts
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but discounts can save money and there are some available to reduce the price significantly. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be manually applied before being credited.
- Memberships – Affiliation with certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates when buying car insurance.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags can get savings up to 30%.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
- Life Insurance Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
- Theft Prevention System – Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Braking Control Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
- Discount for Swiching Early – Some companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
- Driver’s Ed – Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.
As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don’t profit that way. Any amount of discount will bring down the cost of coverage.
To choose insurers offering car insurance discounts in Michigan, click this link.
But buying car insurance online seems impersonal
Some people just want to get advice from a local agent and that is just fine! One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the best rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local insurance agencies is important particularly in Wyoming.
Once you complete this quick form, the quote information gets sent to agents in your area who will compete for your insurance coverage. There is no need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. Now that’s easy! It’s the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with.
The type of auto insurance agent you choose is important
When finding a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple different agency structures to choose from. Agencies in Wyoming are classified as either captive or independent.
Independent Agents
These agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to contact at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Below are Wyoming independent insurance agents that can give you comparison quotes.
American Guardian Agency – 508 28th St SW # Aaa – Wyoming, MI 49509 – (616) 538-9915
Case Insurance Inc – 2453 28th St SW – Wyoming, MI 49519 – (616) 534-5467
Stedman Agency – 508 28th St SW – Wyoming, MI 49509 – (616) 538-9911
Reno Agency – 4727 S Division Ave – Wyoming, MI 49548 – (616) 531-2000
Mc Intyre and Assoc Insurance – 5427 Crippen Ave SW – Wyoming, MI 49548 – (616) 531-9383
Captive Agents
These agents work for only one company like Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. They are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents.
Below is a list of captive insurance agencies in Wyoming willing to provide price quotes.
Allstate Insurance – 1215 Chicago Dr SW – Wyoming, MI 49509 – (616) 452-4002
Farmers Insurance Group – 4251 Clyde Park Ave SW – Wyoming, MI 49509 – (616) 531-9070
State Farm Insurance – 985 Gezon Pkwy SW – Wyoming, MI 49509 – (616) 257-5500
For a complete listing of captive agencies in Wyoming, click here to link.
Deciding on an insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
After receiving satisfactory answers for all questions you ask and locked in a price quote, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that will provide car insurance coverage.
In the end, you save
Cheaper car insurance is attainable on the web in addition to many Wyoming insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not provide online quoting and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
Additional car insurance information is available on the website for the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation located here. Visitors are able to learn about specific coverages, read state legal mandates and laws, view a list of available companies, and download brochures.