How to Know You’re Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Sidney Nebraska

If you are a novice to online auto insurance shopping, you may be overwhelmed due to the large number of online companies all offering big savings in Sidney.

Consumers should take time to do rate comparisons every six months since rates change regularly. Just because you had the lowest rates on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Don’t believe everything you read about auto insurance online, so by reading this article, you’re going to learn a lot of great tips on how to save money.

Make smart decisions and save

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

• Your occupation can affect rates – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations like lawyers, executives and dentists have the highest average rates in part from high stress and lengthy work days. Other occupations such as farmers, historians and performers get better rates.
• Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Driving your car without having proper coverage is a misdemeanor and auto insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage lapse. Not only will you pay more, getting caught without coverage might get you a license revocation or jail time.
• Your car’s features help determine rates – Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder car theft.
• One company can mean more discounts – Many companies will give a discount to insureds who buy several policies from them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. If you currently are using one company, it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in Sidney

To find the best auto insurance prices, there are several ways of comparing price quotes and find the best price. The fastest way to find competitive insurance rates involves getting comparison quotes online. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

The fastest way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This method prevents you from having to do separate quotation requests for every auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form will return price quotes from auto insurance companies with the best prices. It’s the fastest way to compare.

A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes requires a trip to the website of each company and fill out their own quote form. For instance, let’s assume you want to compare USAA, 21st Century and Liberty Mutual. To get each rate you have to visit each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Sidney, click here.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just ensure you’re using apples-to-apples coverage limits on every quote. If you use different values for each quote you can’t possibly determine the best price in Sidney. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages may result in large price differences. And when comparing auto insurance rates, know that getting more free quotes will increase your chances of finding the best rates.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

• No Accidents – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts as compared to frequent claim filers.
• Life Insurance Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
• Multiple Policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
• Drivers Ed for Students – Have your child take driver’s ed class in school.
• Sign Early and Save – Select companies give a discount for signing up before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.
• Sign Online – Some insurance companies will give a small break just for signing your application digitally online.
• Driver Safety – Taking a defensive driving course could save 5% or more depending on where you live.
• Military Rewards – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
• Accident Waiver – A few companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a certain period of time.

It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To see a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Nebraska, follow this link.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying adequate coverage, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Each situation is unique.

For instance, these questions might point out whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

• Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Nebraska?
• What if I total my vehicle and owe more than it’s worth?
• When should I not file a claim?
• Does my vehicle qualify for pleasure use?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
• Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
• Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
• Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
• Should I buy more coverage than the required Nebraska minimum liability coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

Additional detailed information can be read at the Nebraska Department of Insurance website. Consumers can discover disciplinary actions, find out which companies have the most complaints, report car insurance fraud, and download brochures.

More related Sidney auto insurance information:

• 8 Shopping Tips Proven to Save on Car Insurance Costs in Sidney Ohio

One last thing

We covered quite a bit of information on how to save on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with a small mutual company.

Cheaper auto insurance can be purchased from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Sidney agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at the best price.