Is Your Starkville Mississippi Car Insurance Too High? Learn How to Lower Your Rates

Nobody looks forward to buying car insurance, in particular when their premiums are through the roof. Since consumers have many companies to choose from, it can be diffult for consumers to choose the lowest price insurance company.

Smart consumers take time to price shop coverage at least once a year because prices change regularly. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates on your last policy there may be better deals available now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re about to find out the right way to find great coverage at a great price.

Discounts are great for lower rates

Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise every discount very clearly, so here is a list both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

• Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for better car insurance rates.
• Good Students Pay Less – This discount can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
• Own a Home – Being a homeowner may trigger a car insurance policy discount because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
• Military Rewards – Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
• Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
• Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
• Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
• Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a course in driver safety could save 5% or more depending on where you live.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most cut specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck.

To choose insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in Mississippi, click this link.

Buy Cheaper Car Insurance with These Tips

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

• Better credit scores mean better rates – Your credit score is a important factor in your rate calculation. People with good credit tend to be more responsible than drivers with poor credit. If your credit history is low, you could save money insuring your by repairing your credit.
• Pay less after the wedding – Being married can actually save you money on your policy. Marriage translates into being more mature and responsible and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
• More claims means more premium – Insurance companies in Mississippi award better rates to people who do not file claims often. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
• Little extras can really add up – There are many add-on coverages that you can buy if you aren’t careful. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.
• High crash test scores lower rates – Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
• Your location is important – Living in less populated areas is a positive aspect when talking about car insurance. Urban drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident.
• Your stress level may be raising your rates – Did you know your car insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Jobs such as doctors, architects and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like scientists, engineers and performers receive lower rates.
• Bad driving skills means higher rates – Drivers who don’t get tickets get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Only having one moving violation can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers with flagrant tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.

When might I need help?

When buying the best car insurance coverage, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions might point out if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
• Does my vehicle qualify for pleasure use?
• Is pleasure use cheaper than using my vehicle to commute?
• Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
• Do no-fault laws apply in Mississippi?
• Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

But don’t I need an insurance agent?

A small number of people would prefer to buy from a local agent and that is just fine! Professional agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates but still work with a licensed agent.

For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, your insurance data is immediately sent to insurance agents in Starkville who will battle for your insurance coverage. You never need to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy!

Selecting an insurer should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Some important questions to ask are:

• If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
• Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
• How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?

Two different types of insurance agencies

When searching for a local agent, there are a couple of different types of agents that you can select. Agencies in Starkville are either captive or independent (non-captive). Either one can write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning how they differ since it can impact your selection of an agent.

Agency Captives

Captive insurance agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so always compare other rates. They are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage.

Shown below are Starkville captive insurance agents willing to provide rate quotes.

Shelter Insurance – 501 Highway 12 W # 120 – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 324-7800
State Farm Insurance – 306 Highway 12 W – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 323-1551
Farm Bureau Insurance – 223 S Jackson St – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 323-5662

Independent Agents

These agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to contact at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.

The following are Starkville independent insurance agents willing to provide comparison quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 223 S Jackson St – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 323-5662
Direct General Ins Agency – 210 Highway 12 W # C – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 320-7033
Starkville Insurance Inc – 307 E Main St – Starkville, MS 39759 – (662) 323-6914

To view a full list of insurance agents in Starkville, simply jump to this page.

Upon receiving reasonable responses to these questions as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that will provide car insurance coverage.

Beware of misleading car insurance ads

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all seem to make the same claim that you’ll save big after switching your coverage to them.

How can each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that makes them money. A good example of a profitable customer might be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and most likely will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile will have to pay higher premiums and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. This is how companies can claim big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must compare as many rates as you can. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Mississippi Insurance Department website. Mississippi drivers can get help finding coverage, find disaster information, file complaints about a company, and find out industry alerts.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

While you’re price shopping online, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

You just read a lot of ways to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the best prices are with some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.