Buy Cape Girardeau Auto Insurance for Less Money With These Tips

Are you intimidated by the sheer number of auto insurance companies in Cape Girardeau? You’re not alone. You have so many companies to choose from that it can quickly become a big hassle to find the best price.

It’s a great practice to shop coverage around quite often since rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Just because you found the best rates six months ago you can probably find a lower rate today. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online but we’re going to give you a bunch of ideas how to stop overpaying for insurance.

Finding affordable coverage in Cape Girardeau is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to save some money using this information. Missouri drivers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to compare rates over the internet.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Cape Girardeau, MO

Finding a lower price on insurance is not rocket science. Drivers just need to invest a little time comparing rate quotes from different insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

1. The easiest and least time consuming way to get the best comparison quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This easy form eliminates the need for boring form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. One simple form gets you coverage quotes from all major companies. It’s definitely the quickest method.
2. A more difficult way to get quotes online is to manually visit each individual company website and complete a new quote form. For example, we’ll pretend you want to compare rates from Liberty Mutual, Esurance and Progressive. To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.

   To view a list of companies in Cape Girardeau, click here.

Whichever way you use, make sure you use apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles with each company. If you have different values for each quote you can’t possibly make a fair comparison in Cape Girardeau.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Consumers constantly see and hear ads for car insurance savings by companies like State Farm and Allstate. They all seem to make the same claim about savings after switching to them.

How do they all make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All companies can use profiling for the driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a profitable customer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. Any driver who matches those parameters will get very good rates and most likely will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Drivers who don’t meet these standards will be quoted higher premiums and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save money. That’s the way companies can state the savings. This emphasizes why you need to compare as many rates as you can. It’s impossible to know which company will have the lowest rates.

Take discounts and save

Companies do not list every available discount very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• Discount for Good Grades – Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
• One Accident Forgiven – A few companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
• Own a Home – Being a homeowner can save you money because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
• Theft Prevention System – Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
• E-sign – A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing on their website.
• Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

For example, these questions might help in determining if you could use an agent’s help.

• What are Missouri no-fault laws?
• Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
• When should I remove comp and collision on my vehicle?
• What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
• Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
• Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?

If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Even more information can be read at the Missouri Department of Insurance website. Missouri drivers can get help finding coverage, learn about specific coverages, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Other useful links include this online resource for free quotes in Missouri and this list of insurance agents in Cape Girardeau, MO.

In the end, you save

Consumers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, policy cancellation, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or being labeled a high risk driver. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a new company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

When you buy insurance online, it’s not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

We just covered some good ideas how to lower your auto insurance rates. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with the smaller companies.