Expert Advice on Paying Less for Germantown, TN Auto Insurance

Are you tired of trying to scrape together enough money to pay your car insurance bill each month? You are in the same boat as many other Tennessee drivers.

Online insurance companies like Progressive, State Farm and GEICO continually bombard you with ads and it is difficult to ignore the propoganda and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It’s smart to compare prices every six months since insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price six months ago you may be paying too much now. So just block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re going to learn how to quote online to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Which Auto Insurance is Cheapest in Germantown?

There are several ways to compare auto insurance quotes, but some are more efficient than others. You could waste a few hours talking about coverages with insurance companies in Germantown, or you could use the internet to achieve your goal.

Most car insurance companies participate in a marketplace that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company then returns a price quote for coverage. This system prevents you from having to do quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.

To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click to open in new window.

The only downside to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify the insurers you want to price. So if you prefer to pick from a list of companies to compare prices, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in Tennessee. View list of Tennessee insurance companies.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make absolute certain that you use the exact same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If you have unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be very difficult to find the best deal in Germantown. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when price shopping your coverage, having more price comparisons helps locate the best offered rates.

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance companies do not advertise all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the more common and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance.

• Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
• Homeowners Savings – Simply owning a home can save you money because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
• Accident Waiver – Some insurance companies permit an accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
• Organization Discounts – Belonging to certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
• Paperless Signup – Certain companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application on their website.
• New Car Discount – Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• No Claims – Claim-free drivers pay much less when compared with bad drivers.

It’s important to note that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.

To choose insurance companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Germantown, click here to view.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

• Where you live – Living in less populated areas can save you money when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer people means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Urban drivers have to deal with traffic congestion and longer commute times. More time on the road can result in more accidents.
• Pay less after the wedding – Having a wife or husband actually saves money on your auto insurance policy. Having a spouse translates into being more responsible it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
• Increase deductibles and save – Physical damage insurance, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered are collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, or theft. The deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.
• Your car’s features help determine rates – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.

But buying car insurance online seems impersonal

A small number of people would prefer to sit down with an agent and that is OK! One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is that you can obtain lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.

After completing this short form, the quote information gets sent to local insurance agents who will battle to get your business. You don’t have to even leave your home since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find better rates AND an agent nearby.

Selecting an provider should depend on more than just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

• How are they compensated?
• What insurance companies do they work with?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
• If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
• Which company do they place the most coverage with?

Two types of Germantown insurance agents

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents that you can select. Agents are classified as either independent or captive.

Agency Captives

Captive insurance agents can only place business with one company and some examples include State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They generally cannot provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. Captives receive extensive training on their company’s products which can be an advantage.

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

State Farm Insurance – 2189 West St # 1 – Germantown, TN 38138 – (901) 755-3100
Shelter Insurance – 1932 Exeter Rd # 1 – Germantown, TN 38138 – (901) 752-3746
Farmers Insurance Group – 1930 Exeter Rd – Germantown, TN 38138 – (901) 452-9030
Allstate Insurance Co – 2176 West St – Germantown, TN 38138 – (901) 754-4938

Independent Agents

Independent agencies do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When searching for an agent, you should always include at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection.

Below are Germantown independent agencies that are able to give rate quotes.

Rogers Agency – 1910 Exeter Rd – Germantown, TN 38138 – (901) 755-4100
Sandlin Insurance – 7520 Enterprise Ave – Germantown, TN 38138 – (901) 756-0101
Jim Stiles Agency – 1930 Exeter Rd – Germantown, TN 38138 – (901) 754-1167
Kevin Bentley Agency – 2219 S Germantown Rd # C – Germantown, TN 38138 – (901) 755-7002
Murphy Insurance – 7170 Claiborne Dr – Germantown, TN 38138 – (901) 754-6981

To view a complete directory of auto insurance agents in Germantown, go to this page.

Once you have received acceptable answers to these questions as well as a affordable price, you’ve probably found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions may help you determine whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Am I getting all the discounts available?
• Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
• Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
• Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
• How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
• What are Tennessee no-fault laws?
• Should I buy only the required Tennessee minimum liability coverage?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• When should I remove comp and collision on my vehicle?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

More detailed Tennessee auto insurance information is available at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website. Visitors are able to find out which companies have the most complaints, discover disciplinary actions, download brochures, and view agent and company licensing information.

Is there deception in advertising?

State Farm, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads on television and other media. All the companies make the same claim about savings if you change your coverage to them. But how can every company make the same claim?

All companies can use profiling for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer might be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential customers who fall outside this ideal profile will have to pay a more expensive rate which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, it’s extremely important to compare many company’s rates. You cannot predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Compare but don’t skimp

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced full coverage to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

You just read many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive or GEICO.