Auto Insurance in Plattsmouth, NE – 6 Tricks to Save Money

Are you sick and tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? You are no different than many other drivers in Nebraska. There are many insurers to purchase coverage from, and though it is a good thing to have a selection, it can be more difficult to compare company pricing.

It’s a great practice to shop coverage around quite often due to the fact that insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates a few years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the internet, so by reading this article, you’re going to learn a bunch of ideas how to save money.

Plattsmouth Auto Insurance Quote Comparison

Getting a cheaper price on insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. You just need to take the time comparing rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.

• The easiest and least time consuming way to find the lowest comparison rates would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This type of form keeps you from doing separate quotes for each company. Filling out one form will get you price quotes from several companies.
• A more time consuming way to get comparison quotes consists of going to each company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, let’s assume you want rates from Farmers, GEICO and Progressive. To get each rate you have to go to every website to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Plattsmouth, click here.
• The hardest way to get comparison rates is driving to and from local Plattsmouth insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you prefer the trained guidance of a licensed agent. However, consumers can compare the best prices online and get advice from an agent in your area. We’ll cover that shortly.

It’s up to you which method you use, but double check that you are using apples-to-apples coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you use higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Plattsmouth.

Discounts are great for lower rates

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically before you get the savings. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

• Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home can save you money because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
• Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
• Federal Employees – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
• Clubs and Organizations – Affiliation with certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for auto insurance.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts when compared with accident-prone drivers.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will reduce the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Plattsmouth, click this link.

Car Insurance through a local agent

A small number of people just want to visit with an insurance agent. Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get the best rates and still choose a local agent. Buying from local agencies is especially important in Plattsmouth.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, your coverage information is immediately sent to local insurance agents in Plattsmouth who will compete for your coverage. There is no reason to drive around since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy!

How to choose the best insurance agency in Plattsmouth

When searching for local Plattsmouth agents, you must know there are a couple types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Plattsmouth are either captive or independent. Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning the difference between them because it can influence buying decisions.

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to get quotes from multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.

Listed below is a list of independent agencies in Plattsmouth that can give you rate quotes.

John W Fincher Insurance – 2380 8th Ave # 6 – Plattsmouth, NE 68048 – (402) 296-3350
Terri Scholting Agency Inc – 601 Main St – Plattsmouth, NE 68048 – (402) 296-5234
New Frontier Insurance – 501 Main St – Plattsmouth, NE 68048 – (402) 296-3779

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive insurance agents can only place business with one company such as AAA, Allstate and State Farm. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so they have to upsell other benefits. They are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.

Below is a short list of captive insurance agents in Plattsmouth who can help you get price quote information.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 9661 Renee Ave # 3 – Plattsmouth, NE 68048 – (402) 296-4900

For a complete listing of auto insurance agents in Plattsmouth, please click here.

Choosing an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Some important questions to ask are:

• Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
• What insurance company do they write the most business with?
• Are they full-time agents?
• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Nebraska?
• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
• Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
• Are claims handled at the agent’s location?

After getting positive feedback to all your questions as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.

More information is available on the website for the Nebraska Department of Insurance through this link. Nebraska drivers can report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, and learn about specific coverages.

Also read more on FindNewCarInsurance.com and this link where you can make Plattsmouth auto insurance comparisons.

Car insurance coverages

Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – This coverage gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your vehicle.

Since many Nebraska drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (Nebraska limits are 25/50/25), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important. Normally these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Liability – Liability coverage will cover damage that occurs to people or other property. This coverage protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for 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 50/100/50 which means a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage protects against things like attorney fees, pain and suffering and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy higher limits if possible. Nebraska requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.

Collision coverage – This coverage will pay to fix damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage protects against claims like sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a building, driving through your garage door and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive auto insurance – Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as damage from getting keyed, hitting a bird and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Coverage for medical expenses – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for bills such as nursing services, hospital visits and pain medications. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Final thoughts

As you prepare to switch companies, don’t be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, an insured dropped liability coverage limits and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Affordable auto insurance is available online and with local Plattsmouth insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.