Easy Ways to Pay Less on Altus Car Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can overdraw your checking account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparing price quotes is a great way to tighten up your finances.

Numerous insurance companies battle for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates and get the best coverage at the lowest rate

How to Compare Car Insurance Quotes in Altus

Performing a rate comparison can take hours if you aren’t aware of the best way to get rate quotes. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with insurance companies in Altus, or you can stay home and use online quotes to get prices fast.

Most major companies are enrolled in a marketplace where prospective buyers enter their policy data once, and at least one company returns a competitive quote based on the submitted data. This system prevents you from having to do quote requests to each company.

To compare rates using this form now click here (opens in new window).

The only drawback to comparing rates this way is you cannot specify the insurers to receive prices from. If you prefer to choose individual companies to compare prices, we have assembled a list of companies who write car insurance in Oklahoma. Click to view list.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just compare exactly the same coverages and limits for each price quote. If you compare differing limits then you won’t be able to determine the lowest rate in Altus. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits can result in a big premium difference. It’s important to know that comparing a large number of companies provides better odds of finding the best offered rates.

How insurance companies determine rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

• What are your deductibles? – Physical damage deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply would be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, or theft. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
• Don’t let your coverage lapse – Letting your insurance expire will be a guaranteed way to trigger a rate increase. Not only will rates go up, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
• Where you live – Being located in less populated areas is a positive aspect when it comes to car insurance. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident. Drivers who live in large Oklahoma cities have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commutes to work. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.
• Performance level impacts rates – The type of vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in the rate you pay. Small economy passenger cars receive the most favorable rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
• Extra coverages can waste money – There are quite a few add-on coverages you can purchase when buying car insurance. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, better glass coverage and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment at first, but if you don’t need them eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
• Protect your assets with liability insurance – Your policy’s liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. It provides legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.

Cut your premium with discounts

Car insurance companies do not advertise all their discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the more hidden ways to save on car insurance.

• Driver Safety – Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• Good Student Discount – Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.
• No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
• Drive Safe and Save – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than less cautious drivers.
• Early Switch Discount – Some companies give discounts for signing up prior to your current policy expiring. It’s a savings of about 10%.

It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free car insurance policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To choose insurers with discount car insurance rates in Altus, click here to view.

What about my local Altus agents?

A small number of people would prefer to buy from a local agent. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is you may find lower rates but also keep your business local.

Upon completion of this short form, your insurance data is submitted to agents in your area who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no reason to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find better rates and work with a local agent.

Selecting a company should depend on more than just a cheap price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
• Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
• Who are their largest clients?
• How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
• Are they full-time agents?
• What insurance companies do they work with?
• Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?

Do you need an independent or captive insurance agent?

When searching for an insurance agent, you need to know there are two different types of agents to choose from. Agents are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Agency Captives

These agents write business for a single company like State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. Captives are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

Shown below are captive insurance agents in Altus who may provide you with price quote information.

State Farm Insurance – 915 E Broadway St – Altus, OK 73521 – (580) 482-6469

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part.

When comparing rates, you should always include at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection.

Below is a short list of independent agencies in Altus willing to provide price quote information.

Josh Messenger Insurance – 601 1/2 N Main St – Altus, OK 73521 – (580) 482-9416
Liles and Thompson Insurance – 1429 N Main St – Altus, OK 73521 – (580) 482-8602

For a full directory of car insurance agents in Altus, please go to this site.

Upon receiving good answers to all your questions as well as a affordable price, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that can properly insure your vehicles.

Final thoughts

We just showed you a lot of tips how to reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even discover the lowest premiums are with the smaller companies. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive and GEICO.

When shopping online for car insurance, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many cases, someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Additional Oklahoma consumer information

Additional detailed information can be found at the Oklahoma Insurance Department website. Oklahoma drivers can read state legal mandates and laws, report car insurance fraud, and view agent and company licensing information.