Searching for cheap Elk Point car insurance on the web can be difficult for people who are new to online price comaprisons. With so many choices of insurers available, how can anyone possibly compare every one to find the best available price?
Buying car insurance in Elk Point is quite easy. If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can use these tips to find better prices and still get good coverage. South Dakota drivers just need to understand the best way to compare price quotes online.
You probably qualify for some discounts
Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list all available discounts very well, so we break down both well-publicized as well as the least known car insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all occupants to use a seat belt could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
- Employee of Federal Government – Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.
- Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more than drivers with accident claims.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
To choose companies offering car insurance discounts in South Dakota, click here to view.
Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage
When choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different.
For example, these questions can aid in determining whether or not you could use an agent’s help.
- Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
- What discounts do I qualify for?
- Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
- How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
- Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
- How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in South Dakota?
If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.
Online quotes with a local Elk Point insurance agent
Some consumers just want to get advice from a local agent. Educated insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is you may find better rates but also keep your business local.
By using this short form, your insurance coverage information is immediately sent to participating agents in Elk Point who will compete for your coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered to your email.
Selecting an insurance company requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask:
- Are they full-time agents?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in South Dakota?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
Two different types of insurance agents
When finding a good insurance agency, there are two different agency structures to choose from. Agents are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive). Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know how they differ since it may influence the type of agent you choose
Agency Captives
Captive insurance agents can only write with one company and examples are AAA, Allstate and State Farm. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents. Some consumers prefer to buy insurance from these agents mostly because of high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px;" src="https://www.carinsurancediy.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-54.jpg" alt="Elk Point South Dakota car insurance“/>
Listed below are Elk Point captive agencies that are able to give price quotes.
- State Farm Insurance – 113 W Main St – Elk Point, SD 57025 – (605) 356-3371
Independent Agents
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency. When comparing rates, we recommend you contact at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection. Most have the option of insuring with smaller companies which can save you money.
The following is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Elk Point that can give you price quotes.
- Rubida Insurance – 116 E Main St – Elk Point, SD 57025 – (605) 356-2261
- Valley Insurance – 112 E Main St – Elk Point, SD 57025 – (605) 356-2037
For a full directory of car insurance agents in Elk Point, visit this site.
Once you have reasonable responses to these questions and an affordable coverage quote, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that is a good match to insure your vehicles. Just keep in mind consumers can terminate your policy for any reason so never feel that you’re stuck with any particular company with no way to switch.
Additional South Dakota car insurance resources
Additional detailed information is located at the South Dakota Division of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read state legal mandates and laws, get help finding coverage, view a list of available companies, and learn about insurance regulations.
Car insurance 101
Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Coverage for collisions
This will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things such as scraping a guard rail, rolling your car, colliding with a tree and hitting a mailbox. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
This covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as hitting a deer, damage from getting keyed, rock chips in glass, hitting a bird and a broken windshield. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Medical costs insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses for dental work, X-ray expenses, nursing services and prosthetic devices. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
UM/UIM Coverage
This protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (25/50/25 in South Dakota), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Auto liability insurance
Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000.
Liability insurance covers things such as emergency aid, bail bonds, medical expenses, legal defense fees and funeral expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. South Dakota state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
Affordable insurance is out there
When you buy insurance online, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to buy enough coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.
We just covered a lot of techniques to save on car insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the biggest savings come from a small mutual company.
Lower-priced car insurance can be found online and with local Elk Point insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.