Midland Auto Insurance For Less Than You’re Paying Now

Finding affordable Midland auto insurance is always a challenge for consumers not familiar with comparison shopping online. Consumers have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become more work than you anticipated to locate the lowest price in Midland.

Consumers should take time to compare rates every six months because prices go up and down regularly. Just because you found the lowest rates a couple years back you will most likely find a better rate today. Starting right now, ignore everything you know about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you the proper way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

The purpose of this article is to let you in on the best way to quote coverages and some tricks to saving. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to save some money using these tips. Michigan consumers just need to know the most effective way to buy auto insurance on the web.

Why you might pay higher rates in Midland

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes some of the factors companies use to determine your rates.

• Your location affects your rates – Choosing to live in a rural area can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Drivers in populated Michigan areas have much more traffic to deal with and longer commutes to work. More time commuting means more change of being in an accident.
• With age comes lower rates – Young drivers in Michigan are statistically proven to get distracted easily when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds are more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
• Lower rates with optional equipment – Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping auto theft.
• Don’t skimp on liability – Liability insurance will protect you when you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
• Lower miles equals lower premium – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. Most companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars left parked in the garage get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle.
• Pay less after the wedding – Having a wife or husband can get you a discount on auto insurance. Marriage is viewed as being more responsible and it’s proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
• Multi-policy discounts can save money – The majority of insurance companies will give a discount to customers who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s still a good idea to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.

Don’t overlook these discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help bring down the price. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically before you will receive the discount. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Memberships – Affiliation with a qualifying organization may earn a discount when shopping for auto insurance.
• New Car Discount – Insuring a new car is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• Student Driver Training – Have your child enroll in driver’s education in high school.
• Seat Belts Save – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Lower Rates for Military – Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
• Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
• Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared with drivers who are more careless.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way. Any amount of discount will cut the cost of coverage.

Do drivers who switch really save $443 a year?

Consumers in Michigan can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings by State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. All the ads make the same claim that you can save after switching to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote that hits that “sweet spot” receives the best rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential customers who don’t qualify for these standards will be charged higher premiums which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “people who quote” save money. This is how companies can make those claims.

That is why you need to compare many company’s rates. It’s impossible to know which company will fit your personal profile best.

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Click here for link. Michigan consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

A little work can save a LOT of money

Drivers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including high prices, high rates after DUI convictions, poor customer service and even extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching auto insurance companies is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

Discount auto insurance can be purchased online as well as from independent agents in Midland, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

You just read a lot of information how to save on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies.