Is Your Kentwood, MI Auto Insurance Leaving a Hole in Your Pocket?

Feel like you’re a prisoner to an overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you there are many Kentwood consumers feeling the pinch from expensive auto insurance. Companies like State Farm, GEICO and Farmers Insurance increase brand awareness with ad campaigns and it is difficult to ignore the flashy ads and find the best price available.

It’s a good idea to compare prices before your policy renews since rates change frequently. If you had the lowest price six months ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Don’t believe everything you read about auto insurance online, so by reading this article, you’re going to learn some great ideas on how to buy auto insurance cheaper.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or need new coverage, you can use these techniques to find better prices and still get good coverage. Finding the best rates in Kentwood is quite easy. Michigan drivers only need an understanding of the most effective way to shop for auto insurance online.

Smart Buyers can Save Money

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Small claims can cost you – Insurance companies in Michigan provide lower rates to policyholders who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are quite a few add-on coverages that can waste your money if you aren’t careful. Things like personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships are some examples. They may seem like a good idea initially, but if you don’t need them remove them from your policy.
Pay less if you’re married – Having a wife or husband helps lower the price on your auto insurance policy. Marriage means you’re more mature and responsible and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Increase deductibles and save – Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be collision with another vehicle, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. Your deductibles are how much you are required to spend in the event of a claim. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive.
Lower miles equals lower premium – The more you drive each year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage.
High performance equals high price – The performance level of the car you are buying insurance for makes a huge difference in the rate you pay. The cheapest insurance rates are usually for low performance passenger cars, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.

Vehicle Insurance Comparison

Effectively comparing auto insurance prices can take time and effort if you don’t know the best way to get rate quotes. You can waste a few hours (or days) discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Kentwood, or you can utilize online quotes for quick rates.

Many of the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace where insurance shoppers enter their policy data once, and every company returns a competitive quote. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests to every company.

To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here to start a free quote.

The one disadvantage to pricing coverage this way is that you can’t choose the companies you will receive quotes from. If you prefer to choose specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we have assembled a list of companies who write auto insurance in Michigan. Click to view list.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using identical coverages for every company. If your comparisons have mixed coverages it’s not possible to decipher which rate is best in Kentwood.

Don’t believe everything you hear

Consumers can’t get away from ads that promise big savings by companies like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies make the same claim of big savings after switching to them.

How does each company make the same claim? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. Any driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential insureds who don’t meet this ideal profile will be charged a higher premium which leads to business not being written. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That’s why companies can state the savings.

That is why drivers must get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Most are applied when you get a quote, but a few need to be asked about prior to receiving the credit. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

Safety Course Discount – Taking a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
Resident Student – Any of your kids who are attending college and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
Good Student Discount – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount on auto insurance.
Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
Seat Belt Usage – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

It’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn’t work that way. But all discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Michigan, click here.

Different people need different coverages

When choosing adequate coverage, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether or not you may require specific advice.

Do I need rental car coverage?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
When should I remove comp and collision on my vehicle?
Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Michigan?
What is the minimum liability in Michigan?
Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
Does my vehicle qualify for pleasure use?
Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?

If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Much more information about auto insurance in Michigan can be read on the website for the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation. Click here for link. Consumers can get help finding coverage, find out which companies have the most complaints, report car insurance fraud, and view agent and company licensing information.

Also read more on FindNewCarInsurance.com and this page for help finding agents in Kentwood, MI.

One last thing

As you shop your coverage around, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

You just read some good ideas how you can save on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the biggest savings come from a smaller regional carrier. They may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.