7 Discounts Rock Springs Drivers Overlook when Shopping for Auto Insurance on the Web

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your personal savings and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparing price quotes is a smart way to make sure you’re not throwing money away. Online insurance companies like Progressive, GEICO and Farmers Insurance continually bombard you with ads and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or are just looking to switch companies, you can follow these tips to find the best rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding affordable coverage in Rock Springs is not that difficult. Wyoming consumers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to compare prices online.

Comparison of Auto Insurance in Rock Springs, WY

Cutting your Rock Springs auto insurance rates is not a difficult process. You just have to take a couple of minutes to compare quotes provided by online insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The fastest way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This easy form keeps you from doing separate quote forms for every auto insurance company. One form compares rates .

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online is going to the website for every company you want to comare to complete a price quote. For sake of this example, let’s say you want to compare Allstate, GEICO and Liberty Mutual. To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site and enter your policy data, and that’s why the first method is more popular.

To view a list of companies in Rock Springs, click here.

The most time-consuming way to get comparison rates is driving around to and from local Rock Springs insurance agencies. Buying insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you want the professional advice of a licensed agent. You can, however, find lower rates online and still use a local agent and we’ll touch on that later.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just double check that you are using the exact same coverages and limits for each price quote. If you use differing limits it’s impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Rock Springs.

Cut your premium with these seven discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not list every discount very clearly, so we break down some of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less than less cautious drivers.
• Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
• Resident Student – Children who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
• New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
• Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% depending on your company.

It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Wyoming, follow this link.

Car Insurance through a local agent

Certain consumers just want to buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! Educated insurance agents can answer important questions and give you someone to call. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find lower rates but also keep your business local.

After completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is immediately sent to insurance agents in Rock Springs who will give you bids to get your business. There is no reason to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier!

Picking a company requires more thought than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:

• What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
• How long has their agency been open in Rock Springs?
• Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
• Which company do they place the most coverage with?
• Can glass repairs be made at your home?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?

Independent or Captive: It’s your choice

When finding local Rock Springs agents, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that you can select. Agencies in Rock Springs are either independent or captive. Both types can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know how they are different because it can influence your agent selection.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive insurance agents can only write with one company and examples are Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.

Shown below are captive agents in Rock Springs that can give you comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 1471 Dewar Dr # 115 – Rock Springs, WY 82901 – (307) 362-8090
Farm Bureau Insurance – 400 2nd St # D2 – Rock Springs, WY 82901 – (307) 382-2332
State Farm Insurance – 100 Village Cir – Rock Springs, WY 82901 – (307) 362-1933
Farmers Insurance Group – 1695 Sunset Dr # 106 – Rock Springs, WY 82901 – (307) 362-9980

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part.

When comparison shopping, you should always get quotes from several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Below are Rock Springs independent insurance agencies that can give you comparison quotes.

Larry Levitt Insurance Inc – 1695 Sunset Dr # 106 – Rock Springs, WY 82901 – (307) 352-3660
American National Insurance Co – 1215 Elk St # A – Rock Springs, WY 82901 – (307) 382-4414

For a complete listing of licensed insurance agents in Rock Springs, please go to this site.

Upon getting positive feedback to any questions you have and locked in a price quote, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that is a good match to insure your vehicles.

When should I use an insurance agent?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

• Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
• Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
• Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
• How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
• Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
• What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
• Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

Specifics of your auto insurance policy

Learning about specific coverages of auto insurance can help you determine the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the usual coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Comprehensive coverage

This pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as vandalism, damage from flooding, falling objects and rock chips in glass. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since many Wyoming drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (Wyoming limits are 25/100/15), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Collision coverage

Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your vehicle from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision insurance covers claims like hitting a parking meter, driving through your garage door, sustaining damage from a pot hole and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Auto liability

Liability coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to people or other property. It protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show policy limits of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability insurance covers claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, emergency aid and structural damage. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. Wyoming requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/100,000/15,000 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills such as surgery, EMT expenses and prosthetic devices. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Final considerations

We just presented a lot of ways to shop for auto insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies. These companies often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like Progressive or GEICO.

When buying insurance coverage, it’s very important that you do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, someone dropped collision coverage to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Wyoming Insurance Department website. Consumers can file complaints about a company, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Also read more on BankRate.com’s Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and see this list of insurance agents in Rock Springs.