Insider Advice on Saving Money on Wauwatosa Car Insurance

Confused by the wide range of car insurance company choices in Wauwatosa? Lot’s of other consumers are too. Drivers have so many options that it can turn into a lot of work to compare prices.

If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you can learn to find the best rates while maximizing coverage. Finding the best car insurance in Wauwatosa is not that difficult. Wisconsin vehicle owners just need to understand the tricks to compare company rates over the internet.

Don’t pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you complete an application, but a few must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.

Save over 55 – Older drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
Discount for Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
Organization Discounts – Affiliation with a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying car insurance.
No Claims – Claim-free drivers pay much less compared to accident-prone drivers.
Military Rewards – Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.

Consumers should know that some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky. Any qualifying discounts will cut the cost of coverage.

Compare online but buy from a local Wauwatosa agent

Some people prefer to visit with an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is you can get the lowest rates but also keep your business local. Supporting local agencies is important especially in Wauwatosa.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, the quote information is sent to local insurance agents who will battle to get your business. You won’t need to drive around since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy!

How to choose the best auto insurance agent in Wauwatosa

When searching for a good Wauwatosa insurance agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures that you can select. Wauwatosa agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the differences since it can impact your selection of an agent.

Independent Insurance Agents

These agents are not locked into one 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, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When comparing rates, we recommend you include multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from. They often place coverage with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.

Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Wauwatosa that may be able to provide comparison quotes.

Buechel Insurance Svc – 9540 Beverly Pl – Wauwatosa, WI 53226 – (414) 258-6704
Statewide Insurance Group – 11430 W Bluemound Rd # 300 – Wauwatosa, WI 53226 – (414) 771-7080
Bob Mallow Agency – 12201 W Burleigh St # 4 – Wauwatosa, WI 53222 – (414) 302-1000

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents write business for a single company such as State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captives receive extensive training in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers often buy insurance from these agents mostly because of the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.

Below are captive insurance agencies in Wauwatosa who can help you get price quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 11702 W North Ave – Wauwatosa, WI 53226 – (414) 771-6411
State Farm Insurance – 2747 N Mayfair Rd – Wauwatosa, WI 53222 – (414) 256-6200

For a complete listing of captive agencies in Wauwatosa, please view this page.

Picking an auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Wisconsin?
Does the agency support the community they serve?
Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?

After getting good answers for all questions you ask and an acceptable price quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agency that is a good match to properly insure your vehicles.

Is there truth in advertising?

Wisconsin drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance from companies such as Allstate and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you move your policy.

How can each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Drivers who do not match the “perfect” profile will be charged more money and ends up with business not being written. The ads say “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

That is why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It’s impossible to know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional reading for car insurance information

Much more information about car insurance in Wisconsin is available on the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance website through this link. Wisconsin consumers can view agent and company licensing information, find out industry alerts, and get help finding coverage.

Other informative sites include this online resource for free quotes in Wisconsin and this page where you can research Wauwatosa insurance agents.

Quote often and quote early

Drivers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including poor customer service, delays in paying claims, policy cancellation and even not issuing a premium refund. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be easier than you think.

Throughout this article, we presented many ways to save on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from an unexpected company.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.