New Tricks for Spending Less for on Ridgeland Mississippi Car Insurance

Confused by the sheer number of car insurance options in Ridgeland? You have a lot of company. There are so many choices that it can turn into a real hassle to locate the lowest price.

Cut your car insurance rates with discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, buy you may qualify for discounts to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will automatically apply at quote time, but some may not be applied and must be inquired about prior to receiving the credit. If you aren’t receiving every discount available, you’re just leaving money on the table.

Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accidents.
Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
Early Switch Discount – A few companies offer discounts for switching policies before your current expiration date. It’s a savings of about 10%.
Paperwork-free – Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way. Any amount of discount will cut your overall premium however.

Educated Consumers Know How to Buy Car Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

Listed below are a few of the “ingredients” car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Rate your vehicle for proper use – The more you drive in a year the more you will pay for car insurance. 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 those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your car insurance policy shows the correct driver usage, because it can save money.
Theft deterrents lower rates – Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
More people means more accidents – Residing in a small town can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
The type of vehicle makes a difference – The type of car you are buying insurance for makes a significant difference in determining your rates. Economy passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Occupation reflects on rates – Occupations like doctors, architects and financial analysts are shown to have higher average rates because of high stress and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, occupations such as actors, engineers and the unemployed pay the least.
Protect your assets with liability insurance – The liability section of your policy is the protection if you are found to be at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.

Situations that might require an agent

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Every situation is different.

These are some specific questions may help you determine whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

Who is covered by my policy?
Does my vehicle qualify for pleasure use?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Mississippi?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Ridgeland?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

What happened to insurance agents?

Some consumers prefer to buy from a local agent and that is OK! Insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you may find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. Supporting local businesses is definitely important in Ridgeland.

After completing this form (opens in new window), the quote information gets sent to participating agents in Ridgeland who will return price quotes for your business. You don’t have to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. How cool is that?!

Different types of Ridgeland auto insurance agents

If you’re trying to find local Ridgeland agents, you must know there are a couple different agency structures to choose from. Insurance agencies in Ridgeland can either be captive or independent (non-captive). While both can write coverage properly, but it’s important to know the differences because it can influence your selection of an agent.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part.

When comparing rates, we recommend you include price quotes from multiple independent agents to get the best comparison. They also have the ability to place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can be an advantage.

Below are Ridgeland independent insurance agencies willing to provide competitive price quotes.

Thornton Insurance – 6700 Old Canton Rd # A – Ridgeland, MS 39157 – (601) 981-3300
Jerry Lyons Agency – 101 Business Park Dr # G1 – Ridgeland, MS 39157 – (601) 977-0170
Farm Bureau Insurance – 661 Highway 51 # 1a – Ridgeland, MS 39157 – (601) 856-3705

Agency Captives

Captive agencies can only place business with one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They generally cannot provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. Captive agencies are trained well in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Some consumers prefer to buy from captive agents mainly due to the brand legacy and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Below is a short list of captive insurance agents in Ridgeland who can help you get comparison quotes.

Shelter Insurance – 6600 Old Canton Rd # D – Ridgeland, MS 39157 – (601) 977-0002
State Farm Insurance – 6969 Old Canton Rd – Ridgeland, MS 39157 – (601) 956-6556
Southern Farm Bureau Cslty Ins – 1800 E County Line Rd # 400 – Ridgeland, MS 39157 – (601) 957-7777

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

Deciding on a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a low price. Some important questions to ask are:

Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
What insurance company do they write the most business with?
If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
Are they full-time agents?

Upon receiving reasonable responses to all your questions and a good coverage price, most likely you have located an insurance agent that can properly service your car insurance policy.

Advertising myths

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance by companies like Allstate and Progressive. All the ads have a common claim of big savings if you change to them.

How can each company make the same claim?

All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who are not a match for this ideal profile will have to pay higher rates and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That’s why insurance companies can confidently state the savings.

Because of the profiling, you should compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Learn more about Mississippi car insurance

Additional car insurance information can be read on the Mississippi Insurance Department website. Click here for link. Consumers can find out industry alerts, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read consumer alerts.

In conclusion

Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like questionable increases in premium, high prices, policy cancellation or even lack of trust in their agent. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching car insurance companies is less work than it seems.

As you restructure your insurance plan, never buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Discount car insurance is attainable on the web and with local Ridgeland insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.