Buy Sidney Auto Insurance Like a Penny-pincher

Nobody I know likes having to buy auto insurance, especially when the price is too high.

Insurance companies such as GEICO, Farmers Insurance and State Farm all claim big savings with advertising and it is difficult to see through the deception and take the time to shop coverage around.

If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to save some money using these techniques. Finding affordable coverage in Sidney is quite easy. But Montana drivers need to learn how the larger insurance companies price online insurance and use this information to your advantage.

Discounts can save BIG

Companies do not list every available discount very well, so we researched some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

• Military Discounts – Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
• Safe Driver Discount – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more than their less cautious counterparts.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Low mileage vehicles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• 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.
• Early Signing – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
• New Vehicle Savings – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Bundle and Save – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
• Student Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
• Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags can receive discounts of 20% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in Montana, click this link.

Buying car insurance locally

Certain consumers would prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is a personal choice. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent.

Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance data gets sent to agents in your area who will return price quotes to get your business. You won’t need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

Picking an insurance company should depend on more than just a low price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

• Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
• Can glass repairs be made at your home?
• Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
• How often do they review policy coverages?
• Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?

Pick the best auto insurance agent in Sidney for you

When finding a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Sidney are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive).

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents are contracted to one company such as American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. They generally cannot place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They receive extensive training on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

Listed below is a short list of captive agents in Sidney who can help you get price quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 804 S Central Ave – Sidney, MT 59270 – (406) 433-4416
State Farm Insurance – 919 Lincoln Ave S – Sidney, MT 59270 – (406) 482-3115

Independent Insurance Agents

These agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency. When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Below are independent insurance agents in Sidney that can give you price quotes.

Richland Farm Mutual Insurance – 1405 4th St SW # 1 – Sidney, MT 59270 – (406) 488-4898
Dennis Insurance – 111 2nd Ave SW – Sidney, MT 59270 – (406) 488-7410

To view a full list of insurance agents in Sidney, view this link.

Once you have received positive responses and locked in a price quote, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.

Do you really save 40% when you switch?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you change to their company. But how can every company make almost identical claims?

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Drivers who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will be charged higher rates which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That’s the way companies can state the savings. That is why it’s extremely important to get as many quotes as possible. You cannot predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

More detailed Montana auto insurance information is located at the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website. Consumers can find out industry alerts, read industry bulletins, file complaints about a company, and report car insurance fraud.

Summing up your auto insurance search

When you buy insurance online, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced full coverage and found out when filing a claim that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price.

We covered some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies. Some small companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.