New Strategies for Buying Minneapolis Car Insurance Cheaper

No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for car insurance, particularly when the price is too high.

Lots of auto insurance companies contend for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates and uncover the absolute lowest price

It’s a great practice to do rate comparisons every six months since rates tend to go up over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So just forget all the misinformation about car insurance because we’re going to show you the things you must know in order to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to save some money using this information. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Minneapolis is easy if you know what you’re doing. But Minnesota consumers can benefit from knowing how the larger insurance companies price online insurance and use this information to your advantage.

How to Compare Minneapolis Car Insurance Rates

Effectively comparing car insurance prices can take hours if you don’t understand the best way to get rate quotes. You could spend your day talking about coverages with insurance agencies in Minneapolis, or you could save time and use the internet to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most of the best insurance companies take part in a program where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company returns a competitive quote determined by their information. This eliminates the need for quotation requests for every car insurance company. To use this form to compare rates click here (opens in new window).

The only drawback to using this type of system is you cannot specify which carriers you want to price. If you wish to select from a list of companies to compare prices, we have a page of companies who write car insurance in Minnesota. Click here to view list.

Whichever way you use, make sure you use identical information for each comparison quote. If you have different values for each quote you will not be able to determine the best price in Minneapolis. Slightly different coverage limits can result in a big premium difference. And when price shopping your coverage, having more price comparisons will enable you to find the best price.

Discounts can save BIG

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance.

Good Student – Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.
Use Seat Belts – 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.
Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
No Claims – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially as compared to frequent claim filers.
Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break when buying car insurance.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.

To see a list of companies who offer car insurance discounts in Minnesota, click this link.

Aren’t my neighborhood agents an option?

Certain consumers would prefer to talk to a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The best thing about price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the best rates and still have an agent to talk to.

After completing this quick form, your coverage information is immediately sent to insurance agents in Minneapolis who will give you bids for your coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to your email. How’s that for easy! You’ll get the best rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

Selecting an insurer should depend on more than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

Are they full-time agents?
Will your rates increase after a single accident?
Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?

Captive and independent Minneapolis insurance agents

When searching for local Minneapolis agents, there are a couple of different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Minneapolis are either captive or independent (non-captive).

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents work for only one company and examples are Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. These agents are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage.

Listed below is a list of captive insurance agents in Minneapolis that can give you comparison quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 625 Marquette Ave # 243 – Minneapolis, MN 55402 – (612) 338-6422
American Family Insurance – 7040 Lakeland Ave N # 102 – Minneapolis, MN 55428 – (763) 561-7292
Farmers Insurance Group – 5200 Willson Rd # 100 – Minneapolis, MN 55424 – (952) 922-3786
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 701 Xenia Ave S # 400 – Minneapolis, MN 55416 – (763) 546-7550
Allstate Insurance – 19 S 1st St # B1 – Minneapolis, MN 55401 – (612) 630-0184
Farm Bureau Insurance – 7984 University Ave NE – Minneapolis, MN 55432 – (763) 784-4443

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.

Below are Minneapolis independent insurance agents willing to provide comparison quotes.

Agency 10 Insurance – 2415 Annapolis Ln N # 111 – Minneapolis, MN 55441 – (763) 551-1010
Susan M Rothman Agency – 5100 Eden Ave # 105 – Minneapolis, MN 55436 – (952) 928-0455
Mark Wiltse Agency – 7420 Unity Ave N # 207 – Minneapolis, MN 55443 – (763) 566-7913
Joe Smith Insurance – 7916 Medicine Lake Rd – Minneapolis, MN 55427 – (763) 591-1688
Greater Midwest Insurance – 6200 Shingle Creek Pkwy # 250 – Minneapolis, MN 55430 – (763) 560-3695

To view a full list of insurance agents in Minneapolis, please click here.

After getting answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you’ve probably found an insurance agent that will adequately provide car insurance.

You are unique and your car insurance should be too

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Minneapolis?
Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
When would I need additional glass coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Lower the Price of Insurance with These Tips

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that help determine your car insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that can help you get better car insurance rates.

Do you work long hours in a high stress job? – Occupations like doctors, business owners and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average attributed to stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, professions such as actors, athletes and retirees have the lowest average rates.
High crash test scores lower rates – Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. Safer cars protect occupants better and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
The type of vehicle makes a difference – The type of vehicle you are insuring makes a huge difference in how high your rates are. The cheapest insurance rates are generally reserved for economy passenger vehicles, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – Liability insurance will protect you in the event that you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Add-on coverages can add up – There are many extra coverages that you can buy on your policy. Things like rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and membership fees are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.
Optional equipment can affect rates – Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all hinder auto theft.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

GEICO, State Farm and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the companies make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you move to them. How can each company claim to save you money?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a preferred risk might be between 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Drivers who fall outside the “perfect” profile will be charged higher prices and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That’s the way companies can advertise the way they do. That is why it is so important to quote coverage with many companies. Because you never know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

And the best car insurance company is…

Low-cost car insurance can be found on the web in addition to many Minneapolis insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced collision coverage only to find out that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Learn more about Minnesota car insurance

More detailed Minnesota car insurance information is located at the Minnesota Department of Commerce website. Minnesota drivers can read consumer alerts, download brochures, and view a list of available companies.