6 Must-Know Tips When Buying Rathdrum, ID Auto Insurance

Are you sick and tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other Idaho consumers.

Having so many insurance companies to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to find the lowest cost car insurance company.

You should make it a habit to check auto insurance prices on a regular basis because prices are variable and change quite frequently. Even if you think you had the lowest price a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. So block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because it’s time to teach you the tricks you need to know to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Finding affordable coverage in Rathdrum is not rocket science. In a nutshell, everyone who shops for auto insurance will more than likely be able to lower their premiums. But Idaho consumers do need to understand how insurance companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.

Factors that affect insurance rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

• High deductibles save money – The deductibles define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims would be running into the backend of another car, vandalism, or theft. The more expense you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
• More claims means more premium – Companies in Idaho generally give discounts to insureds who do not file claims often. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
• Theft deterrents lower rates – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart car theft.
• One company can mean more discounts – Many companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount you may still want to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
• Performance level impacts rates – The type of car you are insuring makes a significant difference in determining your rates. Economy passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
• Liability coverage protects you – Liability insurance is the coverage that protects you if you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
• Where you live – Being located in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer drivers means fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate. Drivers who live in large Idaho cities have to deal with much more traffic to deal with and longer commutes to work. More time on the road can result in more accidents.
• Your credit rating is important – Having a bad credit rating is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with poor credit. If your credit can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your by improving your rating.

Companies offer discounts so take them!

Companies that sell car insurance do not list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we researched some of the best known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.

• Multiple Policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
• Good Students Pay Less – A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts up to age 25.
• Claim Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay much less compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Homeowners Savings – Owning a house in Rathdrum may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home demonstrates responsibility.
• Sign Online – A few companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up online.
• Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount when shopping for auto insurance.
• New Car Discount – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than drivers with accident claims.
• Save over 55 – Older drivers may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
• Early Signing – Some companies give discounts for buying a policy before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.

It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.

For a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Rathdrum, follow this link.

Your local neighborhood insurance agent

Certain consumers would prefer to buy from a licensed agent. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the best rates and still choose a local agent.

To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, the quote information is sent to insurance agents in Rathdrum who will return price quotes for your business. You won’t need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy! Get lower rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

Choosing an insurer needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. These questions are important to ask:

• Is assistance available after office hours?
• If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
• Can glass repairs be made at your home?

If you want to view a list of agents in Rathdrum to contact, visit this site.

After getting satisfactory answers to all your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an provider that meets your needs to adequately provide auto insurance.

How can State Farm, Allstate and GEICO save drivers who switch?

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads on television and other media. They all make an identical promise of big savings after switching your policy. But how can every company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives newer vehicles. A driver who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who do not match these standards must pay higher rates and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This illustrates why drivers must quote coverage with many companies. It’s not possible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Is my situation unique?

When it comes to choosing coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help you determine if you would benefit from professional advice.

• Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
• Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
• Is Idaho a no-fault state?
• Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Idaho?

If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

More information about auto insurance

More detailed Idaho auto insurance information is available at the Idaho Department of Insurance website. Consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, file complaints about a company, and learn about insurance regulations.

Other informative sites include BankRate.com’s Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this resource to find Rathdrum, ID insurance agents.

Buy online or local, you save

The cheapest auto insurance is possible both online in addition to many Rathdrum insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies do not provide online quoting and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

We covered some good ideas how you can shop for auto insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from the least-expected company. These companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.