Buy Bossier City, LA Auto Insurance Like a Tightwad

Have you had enough of not being able to afford to buy car insurance? You are no different than most other car owners in Louisiana. Consumers have many insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and though it is a good thing to have a selection, having more insurers makes it harder to find the lowest cost provider.

It’s a great practice to check auto insurance prices at least once a year because insurance rates trend upward over time. Even if you think you had the best price six months ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the only way to find better coverage at a better price.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Bossier City is not rocket science. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to cut costs considerably using this strategy. Louisiana vehicle owners just need to understand the proper methods to get comparison rates on the web.

Why your price might be higher

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.

• Traffic violations increase rates – Even one citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. If you have serious violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
• Claim-free discounts can add up – Insurance companies in Louisiana award discounts to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
• Rural vs Urban Areas – Being located in small towns and rural areas can save you money when buying auto insurance. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident. Drivers who live in large Louisiana cities tend to have traffic congestion and longer commutes to work. Longer commute distances translates into higher accident risk.
• With age comes lower rates – Older insureds tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Teenage drivers are statistically proven to be more careless when behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
• Performance influences rates – The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring makes a substantial difference in your rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
• Liability coverage is cheap – Liability insurance provides coverage when a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. It provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.

Auto Insurance Prices in Bossier City, LA

All the larger auto insurance companies like Allstate and Progressive provide insurance quotes directly from their websites. Getting online quotes is fairly straightforward as you just type in your coverage preferences as detailed in the form. After you complete the form, the system gets reports for credit and driving violations and generates pricing information based on many factors. Being able to quote online makes it a lot easier to compare rates but having to visit several different sites and fill out multiple forms can be a bit tiresome and repetitive. Unfortunately, it is important to have as many quotes as possible if you are searching for a lower rate.

The quickest way to lower your rates is to use a quote form to return rates from several different companies. It saves time, requires less work, and makes comparison shopping a little more enjoyable. Immediately after submitting the form, it is rated and you can choose any of the quotes returned. If a lower price is quoted, you can click and sign and purchase the new policy. It takes just a few minutes to complete and you’ll know if lower rates are available.

In order to find out how much you’re overpaying now, click here and submit your coverage information. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you duplicate the limits and deductibles identical to your current policy. This makes sure you will have a rate comparison based on identical coverages.

Ads can be misleading

Consumers in Louisiana get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by Allstate and Progressive. All the ads have a common claim about savings after switching to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a driver they prefer could possibly be a mature driver, has no driving citations, and has excellent credit. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who are not a match for these standards must pay higher premiums and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That is how insurance companies can advertise the savings. This illustrates why drivers must get as many comparisons as possible. It’s not possible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Discounts are basically free money

Companies don’t always list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the best known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Accident Waiver – A handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before raising your premiums so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
• Auto/Life Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy life insurance.
• Good Student – Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.
• Student in College – Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
• New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
• Drive Safe and Save – Insureds without accidents can pay as much as 50% less than less cautious drivers.

Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Louisiana, click here.

But I want to work with a local agent

Some people would prefer to talk to a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Educated insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the best rates but also keep your business local.

By using this simple form, the coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents in Bossier City who will return price quotes to get your business. You never need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. How cool is that?!

Deciding on an provider should depend on more than just the premium amount. Here are some questions to ask:

• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
• If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
• If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?

Is a captive or independent auto insurance agent right for you?

When searching for a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two different agency structures from which to choose. Bossier City agents are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive). Either one can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the difference between them because it can influence your agent selection.

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents have only one company to place business with and examples are State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so they have to upsell other benefits. They are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.

Listed below are Bossier City captive insurance agencies that are able to give price quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 1630 Barksdale Blvd – Bossier City, LA 71111 – (318) 424-1700
State Farm Insurance – 2400 Old Minden Rd # 3w – Bossier City, LA 71112 – (318) 746-4896
Shelter Insurance – 2223 Old Minden Rd # A # 1 – Bossier City, LA 71112 – (318) 746-1245
Allstate Insurance – 2167 Airline Dr – Bossier City, LA 71111 – (318) 746-0059

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency.

When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.

Shown below are independent insurance agencies in Bossier City who can help you get comparison quotes.

Southern General Agency – 3018 Old Minden Rd # 1103 – Bossier City, LA 71112 – (318) 550-0264
Montgomery Agency Inc – 209 Bennett St – Bossier City, LA 71111 – (318) 424-1414
Louisiana General Agency – 1824 Benton Rd – Bossier City, LA 71111 – (318) 746-4242
Cross Insurance – 1344 Airline Dr – Bossier City, LA 71112 – (318) 746-2000
ABC Insurance – 1520 Barksdale Blvd – Bossier City, LA 71111 – (318) 222-0123

For a complete listing of Bossier City insurance agents, visit this link.

Once you have satisfactory answers to all your questions and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found an insurance agency that will properly service your auto insurance policy.

Which insurance is the “right” coverage?

When buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
• Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
• Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
• When should I not file a claim?
• Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Even more information is available at the Louisiana Department of Insurance website. Louisiana consumers can download brochures, find a variety of consumer forms, and view agent and company licensing information.

Best coverage at the best price

You just read many ways to shop for auto insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the most savings is with a lesser-known regional company. Some small companies often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.

The cheapest auto insurance can be bought both online in addition to many Bossier City insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online quoting and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, don’t be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.