Little Known Tricks to Saving Money on Jackson Michigan Auto Insurance

Purchasing low-cost Jackson auto insurance over the internet may be challenging for consumers new to buying insurance online. With dozens of choices, how can anyone effectively compare every one to find the lowest price?

This information will let you in on how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. Nevertheless, Michigan consumers should learn the way companies price insurance differently.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Jackson, Michigan

There are several ways to compare quotes from local in Jackson, Michiganauto insurance companies. The best way to find the lowest rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

One of the simplest ways to get quotes for comparison is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This type of form eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for each company. Completing one form gets you coverage quotes from several companies. This is by far the quickest method.
A more time consuming way to get comparison quotes requires visiting each company’s website to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, let’s say you want to compare rates from Farmers, State Farm and Liberty Mutual. To find out each rate you need to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to insurance companies in Jackson, click here.
The least efficient way to compare rates is driving around to and from local Jackson insurance agencies. The internet makes this process obsolete unless you prefer the professional advice only provided by licensed Jackson agents. Drivers can comparison shop online but buy from a local insurance agent and we’ll cover that in a bit.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just ensure you are comparing exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles for each comparison quote. If you are comparing unequal deductibles or liability limits it’s not possible to truly determine the lowest rate in Jackson. Having just a slight variation in limits could mean much higher rates. Just remember that having more price comparisons gives you a better chance of getting the best offered rates.

Policy discounts you shouldn’t miss

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, buy you may qualify for discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of purchase, but some may not be applied and must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.

Discounts for Safe Drivers – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more than drivers with accident claims.
Passive Restraints – Factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
New Vehicle Savings – Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Senior Discount – Mature drivers may receive better auto insurance rates.
Homeowners Pay Less – Owning a house in Jackson may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.

It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

Make smart decisions and save

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine your rates.

Is your vehicle built for speed? – The type of car you drive makes a substantial difference in determining your rates. The most favorable rates are for economy passenger vehicles, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
Big city or small town – Living in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident. Urban drivers have to deal with much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. More time on the road can result in more accidents.
Poor credit can mean higher rates – Your credit rating is a huge factor in your rate calculation. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have poor credit. If your credit score can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score.
Lower miles equals lower premium – Driving more miles every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting can get a lower rate than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
Low deductibles can be expensive – Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are colliding with a building, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.

Comparing rates from local agents

Some people just want to visit with an insurance agent. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local insurance agencies is especially important in Jackson.

Upon completion of this quick form, the coverage information is emailed to companies in Jackson who will return price quotes for your business. You don’t have to drive around because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. How cool is that?! You can find the lowest rates and work with a local agent. Jackson MI insurance quotes

Independent or Captive: It’s your choice

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple different agency structures that you can select. Jackson agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from. Many write coverage with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

The following is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Jackson that may be able to provide rate quotes.

Davis Insurance Inc – 900 Horton Rd – Jackson, MI 49203 – (517) 782-7163
Dobben Agency LLC – 2019 4th St # 1 – Jackson, MI 49203 – (517) 787-1270
Marvin Okun Agency – 1100 Clinton Rd – Jackson, MI 49202 – (517) 796-2372
Marvin Okun Agency – 2055 Spring Arbor Rd – Jackson, MI 49203 – (517) 784-1669
Nelson Insurance – 304 W Ganson St – Jackson, MI 49201 – (517) 782-0485

Agency Captives

These agents can only place business with one company and examples are Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. They receive extensive training on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Some people will only purchase coverage from captives partially due to loyalty to the company and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Below is a short list of captive agencies in Jackson willing to provide price quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 1341 W Parnall Rd – Jackson, MI 49201 – (517) 784-9166
Allstate Insurance – 1415 Clinton Rd – Jackson, MI 49202 – (517) 783-4566
State Farm Insurance – 107 S Dettman Rd – Jackson, MI 49203 – (517) 787-2770

To view a complete directory of Jackson captive insurance agencies, click here to link.

Deciding on an insurance agency needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Here are some questions to ask:

Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?

Once you have received positive feedback to all your questions and locked in a price quote, you’ve probably found an auto insurance agent that will service your policy.

It’s not one size fits all

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

These are some specific questions might help in determining if you might need an agent’s assistance.

Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form.

More information can be found on the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Click here for link. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, report car insurance fraud, and read state legal mandates and laws.

These articles may also be worth reading.

How to Get the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates From Insurance Agents in Jacksonville, FL

Final considerations

Low-cost auto insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood Jackson agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

In this article, we covered some good ideas how you can lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the smaller companies.

When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are too many instances where an insured cut collision coverage only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.