9 Ways to Save Money on Auto Insurance in Springfield

Searching for the cheapest Springfield auto insurance online can be somewhat difficult for people who are new to comparing rates online. Because there are so many online companies, how can consumers effectively compare every one to find the lowest rates?

It’s a great practice to take a look at other company’s rates on a regular basis due to the fact that insurance rates go up and down regularly. Even if you got the best rates on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Don’t believe everything you read about auto insurance on the internet, so I’m going to show you some excellent ideas to find affordable auto insurance.

Finding the best rates in Springfield is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Missouri drivers just need to learn the proper way to get comparison quotes online.

Springfield Auto Insurance Quote Comparison

Cutting your Springfield auto insurance rates is not a difficult process. Drivers just need to take a couple of minutes to compare quotes online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

1. Probably the best way to get quotes for comparison would be an industry-wide quote request form (click to open form in new window). This type of form prevents you from having to do separate quote forms for each company. Just one form will return quotes direct from many companies. It’s the fastest way to compare.
2. A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online requires a trip to the website for every company you want to comare and request a quote. For example, let’s assume you want to compare rates from Progressive, Safeco and Farmers. You would have to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

   For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Springfield, click here.

Whichever way you use, double check that you are using the exact same deductibles and coverage limits with every price quote. If you have mixed coverages it will be very difficult to determine the lowest rate in Springfield.

Save money by taking advantage of these nine discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always publicize all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the best known and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving fewer miles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• Accident Waiver – A few companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don’t have any claims prior to the accident.
• Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Senior Discount – Older drivers may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
• Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.
• Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
• Early Signing – Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
• Drivers Education – Require your teen driver to enroll in driver’s education in high school.
• No Claims – Claim-free drivers pay much less compared to frequent claim filers.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Missouri, follow this link.

When should I use an insurance agent?

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if you might need professional guidance.

• Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
• Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
• Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
• What is the minimum liability in Missouri?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
• Can I still get insurance after a DUI?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

Auto insurance coverage breakdown

Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Medical payments coverage and PIP – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills for EMT expenses, doctor visits, hospital visits, chiropractic care and dental work. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Comprehensive coverage – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like rock chips in glass, damage from getting keyed and hail damage. The most a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – This gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and damage to your vehicle.

Since many Missouri drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/10 in Missouri), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Collision – Collision coverage covers damage to your vehicle caused by collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for things such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, colliding with a tree, crashing into a building, hitting a parking meter and colliding with another moving vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Liability auto insurance – This coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. It protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 that translate to $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability can pay for things such as emergency aid, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, court costs, legal defense fees and pain and suffering. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. Missouri state minimum liability requirements are 25,000/50,000/10,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.

For more reading

Even more information can be read at the Missouri Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, read consumer alerts, and read state legal mandates and laws.