Popular Tricks for Buying Valley City, ND Auto Insurance at a Discount

Are you intimidated by the crazy number of auto insurance companies in Valley City? Many other drivers are as well. Drivers have so many options available that it can quickly become more work than you anticipated to find lower rates.

Decisions you make can impact your rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate rates.

• Men fork out a little more – Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Men and women are in accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI. Youthful male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
• Lower rates come with age – Older insureds are more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Teen drivers are known to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
• Adjust deductibles and save – Physical damage deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims would be running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, or theft. The more you’re willing to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
• High performance equals high price – The performance of the vehicle you own makes a huge difference in your rates. Small economy passenger vehicles receive the most favorable rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
• Safer occupants lowers premiums – Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders.
• Better credit scores mean better rates – Credit history is a big factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit history is not that good, you could potentially save money when insuring your by repairing your credit. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have lower credit scores.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

Auto insurance companies do not advertise every discount very clearly, so we took the time to find both well-publicized as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Senior Citizens – Older drivers can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
• Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Valley City can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
• Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Resident Student – Children who are attending college and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

To see a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Valley City, click here.

Do auto insurance companies bend the truth?

Consumers in North Dakota get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies have a common claim of big savings if you move to them.

How do they all claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might be a mature driver, owns a home, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any new insured who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don’t measure up to the requirements will have to pay more money and ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you need to get as many quotes as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Situations that might require an agent

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether you could use an agent’s help.

• Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
• What is the minimum liability in North Dakota?
• When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
• Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
• Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
• What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
• How many claims can I have before being cancelled?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

More sites with auto insurance information

Even more information is located at the North Dakota Insurance Department website. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, view a list of available companies, read consumer alerts, and download brochures.

More quotes mean more savings

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be bought online and with local Valley City insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. Some companies do not offer online quoting and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like being labeled a high risk driver, high prices, extreme rates for teen drivers and delays in responding to claim requests. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company is not as difficult as it may seem.

You just learned a lot of ways to shop for auto insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the best price on auto insurance is with a lesser-known regional company.