Sick and tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? You’re in the same situation as the majority of other car owners in Idaho.
Many insurers compete for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare auto insurance companies and get the best coverage at the lowest cost out there.
Smart consumers take time to take a look at other company’s rates yearly because prices fluctuate regularly. Even if you think you had the lowest price last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re about to learn the quickest way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.
Companies offer discounts so take them!
Car insurance companies don’t always advertise all their discounts very well, so we break down some of the best known and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance.
- No Charge for an Accident – A few companies permit an accident without raising rates if you are claim-free prior to the accident.
- Auto/Life Discount – Some companies give lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
- No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less compared to frequent claim filers.
- Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Driver’s Ed – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class in school.
- Anti-theft System – Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Good Students Pay Less – Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free car insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
To choose insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Idaho, click this link.
Don’t I need to talk to an agent?
A small number of people just want to get advice from a local agent and that is OK! One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is you may find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.
To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your coverage information is instantly submitted to insurance agents in Sandpoint who will compete for your coverage. There is no need to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy! You can find the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.
Picking an insurance company requires more thought than just the premium amount. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- How are they compensated?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- Are they full-time agents?
The difference between Sandpoint car insurance agents
When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are a couple of types of agencies that you can select. Insurance agencies in Sandpoint are categorized either independent or captive.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents are contracted to one company and some examples include State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. Captives cannot shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents are trained well on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Below is a short list of captive agencies in Sandpoint who may provide you with rate quotes.
Farm Bureau Insurance – 920 Kootenai Cut Off Rd – Sandpoint, ID 83864 – (208) 263-3161
State Farm Insurance – 302 W Main St – Sandpoint, ID 83864 – (208) 263-4264
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agencies are not locked into one company but rather can write business with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparison shopping, we recommend you get quotes from multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.
The following is a list of independent insurance agents in Sandpoint that are able to give price quote information.
Advocate Insurance Svc – 506 Alder St – Sandpoint, ID 83864 – (208) 255-2222
David Neely Agency – 105 Pine St # 110 – Sandpoint, ID 83864 – (208) 263-3741
North Idaho Insurance – 102 W Superior St – Sandpoint, ID 83864 – (208) 263-2194
Stephen Smith Agency – 112 N 4th Ave – Sandpoint, ID 83864 – (208) 265-4562
For a complete listing of insurance agents in Sandpoint, please view this page.
Once you have answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask and locked in a price quote, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that will properly service your car insurance policy.
Slick advertising tricks that work
Companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the ads make an identical promise of big savings if you switch your policy. How does each company say the same thing?
All companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer could possibly be between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and has great credit. A driver who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.
Drivers who do not match this ideal profile will be quoted a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why it is so important to compare many company’s rates. It’s impossible to know which car insurance company will have the lowest rates.
More detailed Idaho car insurance information can be found at the Idaho Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, report car insurance fraud, and learn about specific coverages.
More quotes mean more savings
Budget-conscious car insurance is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood Sandpoint agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers may not provide online quoting and these smaller companies work with independent agents.
We just presented many ways to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even find the lowest premiums are with some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like Progressive and Geico.