Insider Advice on Saving Money on Twin Falls, ID Car Insurance

Have you fallen victim to high-priced car insurance? Trust us when we tell you you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. Companies like GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with catchy ads and it is difficult to ignore the flying pigs and cute green geckos and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

Consumers need to do rate comparisons yearly due to the fact that insurance rates change regularly. Just because you had the lowest price last year you may be paying too much now. Don’t believe everything you read about car insurance online but I’m going to show you the best ways to save money.

If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you can learn to get lower rates and still get good coverage. Buying car insurance in Twin Falls is quite easy. Idaho consumers only need to know the tricks to compare price quotes on the web.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• Resident Student – Any of your kids who are attending college and don’t have a car may be able to be covered for less.
• Good Student Discount – Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
• Auto/Home Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
• Theft Prevention System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less compared to bad drivers.
• Braking Control Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
• Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates you could get a free car insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

To see a list of companies with the best car insurance discounts in Idaho, click this link.

But I don’t know anything about car insurance

When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions might help in determining if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
• What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
• Do I need higher deductibles?
• Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
• Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
• Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
• What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Advertising myths

Idaho consumers constantly see and hear ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim of big savings if you move your coverage to them.

How do they all make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the right customer they prefer to insure. For instance, a driver they prefer could be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and as a result will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Consumers who don’t qualify for the requirements will be charged more money which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That is how companies can make the claims of big savings. That is why drivers should compare many company’s rates. It’s not possible to predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional consumer information websites

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Idaho Department of Insurance website. Idaho consumers can report car insurance fraud, find disaster information, and view agent and company licensing information.

In conclusion

In this article, we covered a lot of information how to save on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a small local company. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like Progressive and GEICO.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.