Learn How to Cut Costs on Baker Auto Insurance

I can’t think of anyone who likes having to buy auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much. Drivers have multiple car insurance companies to buy insurance from, and although it’s nice to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to find the lowest cost provider.

This article will teach you how to effectively get price quotes and some money-saving tips. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Louisiana drivers only need to know the most effective way to shop for auto insurance on the web.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in Baker

Getting better auto insurance pricing can be quick and easy. All that’s required is to take a couple of minutes comparing rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The fastest way to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This type of form prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. One simple form will return quotes instantly.
A different way to get quotes online is going to the website for each individual company to request a price quote. For sake of this example, let’s assume you want to compare USAA, 21st Century and American Family. You would have to go to every website and enter your policy data, and that’s why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Baker, click here.
The least recommended way to get comparison rates is to spend your day driving to local Baker insurance agencies. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you require the trained guidance of a local Baker agent. However, consumers can obtain prices from the web but still have the advice of a local agent.

Whichever way you use, ensure you’re using apples-to-apples coverage information for every quote you compare. If you enter mixed coverages it will be next to impossible to determine the lowest rate in Baker.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but there are discounts available to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at quote time, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for prior to receiving the credit. If you don’t get every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

Claim Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents can save substantially when compared with accident-prone drivers.
Student in College – Youth drivers living away from home attending college and don’t have a car can receive lower rates.
Drivers Education – Have your child complete a driver education course in high school.
Homeowners Savings – Owning a house in Baker can save you money because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
No Charge for an Accident – Certain companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
Good Students Pay Less – Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.
Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
Safe Drivers – Safe drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accidents.
Safety Course Discount – Successfully completing a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.

Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky. But any discount will reduce your overall premium however.

To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in Baker, click here.

What about my local Baker agents?

Some people prefer to get advice from a local agent and that is a personal choice. Good agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain lower rates but also keep your business local. And providing support for local agencies is important especially in Baker.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your information is immediately sent to insurance agents in Baker who will compete for your business. You won’t need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. How’s that for easy!

Independent or Captive: It’s your choice

When researching an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures to choose from. Baker agents are classified as either captive or independent. While both can do a good job, but it’s worth learning how they are different because it can influence the selection process.

Independent Agents

These agents are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and that require little work on your part.

When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices. lower rates in Baker

Shown below is a short list of independent agents in Baker willing to provide comparison quotes.

Ozark Insurance – 3040 Ray Weiland Dr – Baker, LA 70714 – (225) 775-7614
Clothier Insurance – 3040 Ray Weiland Dr – Baker, LA 70714 – (225) 775-7502

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents can only write with one company and examples are AAA, Allstate and State Farm. These agents are not able to compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. Captives receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.

Listed below are Baker captive insurance agencies that are able to give price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 13920 Plank Rd – Baker, LA 70714 – (225) 774-1106
State Farm Insurance – 14441 Plank Rd # B – Baker, LA 70714 – (225) 775-2494
Shelter Insurance – 4686 Groom Rd # B – Baker, LA 70714 – (225) 774-3119

To view a full list of Baker captive insurance agents, visit this site.

Picking a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Agents should be asked these questions:

Do they make recommendations based only on price?
What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
Are there any discounts that you might be missing?

After getting reasonable responses and a low price estimate, you may have just found an insurance agency that can properly insure your vehicles.

When might I need an agent?

When buying coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if you will benefit from professional help.

Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Louisiana?
Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.

Make smart decisions and save

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Understanding what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.

Traffic violations increase rates – Just one speeding ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 form with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
Younger drivers pay higher rates – More mature drivers are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Teenage drivers tend to be less responsible when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Multi-policy discounts can save money – Some auto insurance companies will award you with lower prices to customers who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. Drivers may still find a better deal by buying auto insurance from a different company.
Men are more aggressive – Statistics demonstrate women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Both sexes tend to get into accidents at a similar rate, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.

Don’t be fooled by advertising claims

Louisiana consumers constantly see and hear ads for cheaper car insurance by State Farm and Allstate. They all make an identical promise that you can save after switching to their company.

How can each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a profitable customer might be between 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a high credit rating. A customer who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential insureds who do not match the “perfect” profile will have to pay higher prices which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers that switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That’s why insurance companies can advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, it is so important to get as many quotes as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Compare but don’t skimp

When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, someone sacrificed collision coverage only to discover later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

In this article, we presented some good ideas how to shop for auto insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even find the best price on auto insurance is with the least-expected company. Regional companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive and GEICO.

Additional auto insurance information is located on the website for the Louisiana Department of Insurance through this link. Louisiana consumers can get help finding coverage, file complaints about a company, and read consumer alerts.

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