10 Tips to Save on Car Insurance in Deer Lodge, MT

Finding lower rates for Deer Lodge car insurance can be hard for consumers not familiar with buying insurance online. Consumers have so many companies to choose from that it can be a big hassle to compare prices in Deer Lodge.

This information will instruct you on how car insurance quotes work and some tips to save money. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Montana consumers just need to learn the proper methods to get comparison rates online.

Car Insurance Comparison Rates in Deer Lodge

Cutting your Deer Lodge car insurance rates can be surprisingly simple. All you need to do is spend a few minutes to compare quotes online with multiple companies. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

One of the best ways to get quotes for comparison would be an industry-wide quote request form click here to open form in new window. This method prevents you from having to do separate quotation requests for each company you want a rate for. One simple form gets rate comparisons from multiple low-cost companies. This is by far the quickest method.
A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online requires a trip to the website for each individual company and request a quote. For sake of this example, we’ll pretend you want comparison quotes from Allstate, GEICO and Travelers. You would have to go to every website to enter your coverage information, and that’s why the first method is more popular. For a handy list of car insurance company links in Deer Lodge, click here.
The most time-consuming method of comparing rate quotes is driving to different Deer Lodge agent offices. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you want the personal advice of a licensed agent. It is possible to compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and you’ll learn how to do that later.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just ensure you are comparing the exact same coverage limits and deductibles for every quote you compare. If you are comparing different liability limits it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison in Deer Lodge.

Discounts are great for lower rates

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you may find discounts that you may not know about. Some discounts apply automatically when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be inquired about prior to receiving the credit. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on the same car insurance policy could earn a price break for each car.
Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
Defensive Driver – Taking part in a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better car insurance rates.
Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Braking Control Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accidents.
Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class if offered at their school.

It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will cut your premiums.

To see a list of companies who offer car insurance discounts in Deer Lodge, click this link.

Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent

Certain consumers would prefer to visit with an insurance agent. Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. The best thing about getting online price quotes is you may find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. And providing support for local agencies is especially important in Deer Lodge.

By using this simple form, your coverage information is submitted to companies in Deer Lodge who will compete for your business. You never need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. How cool is that?!

Not all auto insurance agents are the same

When finding an insurance agent, there are a couple of different types of agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Deer Lodge can either be independent or captive. Either one can write coverage properly, but it’s worth mentioning the difference between them since it may influence buying decisions.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from.Most can insure with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

Shown below are independent agents in Deer Lodge that may be able to provide price quote information.

Clawson Insurance – 400 Missouri Ave – Deer Lodge, MT 59722 – (406) 846-1411

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies write business for a single company and examples are State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They usually cannot give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies are trained well on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers frequently choose to use a captive agent partially due to the brand legacy and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Selecting an insurance agency requires more thought than just a cheap price. These questions are important to ask:

Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
How are claims handled?
Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?

Upon receiving reasonable responses to your questions as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that meets your needs to insure your vehicles.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to choosing coverage for your vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether or not you could use an agent’s help. Montana insurance quotes

How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
What are the financial responsibility laws in Montana?
Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
Do I need motorclub coverage?
How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Montana?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?

If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

The fine print in car insurance ads

Consumers in Montana get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. All the ads make the same claim of big savings if you switch to their company.

How does each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the right customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be between 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and drives newer vehicles. Any new insured who matches those parameters will get very good rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Consumers who fall outside this ideal profile will be quoted higher prices which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can make those claims.

This emphasizes why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know the company that will have the lowest rates.

Car insurance coverages and their meanings

Having a good grasp of car insurance helps when choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.

Collision coverage protection

Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for things such as rolling your car, crashing into a ditch, hitting a mailbox and scraping a guard rail. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for expenses like X-ray expenses, hospital visits and EMT expenses. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto liability insurance

This protects you from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people in an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage protects against claims like medical services, loss of income, repair costs for stationary objects and funeral expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying higher limits if possible. Montana state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/10,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.

Comprehensive auto coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like hitting a bird, theft, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from a tornado or hurricane and a broken windshield. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your vehicle.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 25/50/10), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Usually the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Buy online or local, you save

You just learned a lot of information how to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a small local company.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, someone sacrificed collision coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price.

Low-cost car insurance is possible both online and also from your neighborhood Deer Lodge agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

Additional car insurance information is available on the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website located here. Consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, learn about specific coverages, find out industry alerts, and download brochures.