Proven Techniques for Getting Low-Cost Chesterfield Auto Insurance

Have you fallen victim to high-priced auto insurance? Believe me, there are a lot of people in Chesterfield just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy.

Because there are so many options when it comes to auto insurance, it can be impossible to choose the right provider.

How to Get Auto Insurance in Chesterfield, MO

All major auto insurance companies give coverage prices directly from their websites. Getting quotes is quite easy as you simply type in your coverage preferences into a form. After the form is submitted, the system automatically orders your driving and credit reports and generates a price based on these factors. This streamlines rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit each company’s website and repetitively enter the same data into a form gets old quite quickly. But it’s absolutely necessary to do this in order to get lower prices.

There is a better way to compare rates

A quicker way to get multiple rate quotes requires only one form that analyzes rates from many companies. This type of form saves time, requires much less work on your part, and makes online quotes a little more enjoyable. After sending your information, your coverage is rated and you can choose any one of the price quotes you receive.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and buy the new coverage. It takes just a few minutes to complete and can result in significant savings.

If you want to compare pricing, click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you replicate exactly as shown on your declarations page. Using the same limits helps guarantee you are getting rate comparison quotes using the same coverage and limits.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of purchase, but less common discounts must be specifically requested in order for you to get them.

• Drivers Education – Require your teen driver to enroll in driver’s education in high school.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Federal Government Employee – Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.
• E-sign – Some insurance companies will give a small break just for signing your application over the internet.
• Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.

Consumers should know that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will bring down your premiums.

For a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Missouri, follow this link.

Buying car insurance locally

Some people would prefer to sit down with an agent. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent. And supporting small agencies is important particularly in Chesterfield.

By using this form (opens in new window), your information is emailed to agents in your area who will battle to get your business. There is no need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! You’ll get the best rates AND a local agent.

If you prefer to view a list of agents in Chesterfield to contact, visit this site.

Choosing an insurer shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

• Is assistance available after office hours?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
• Do they assist clients in filing claims?
• What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?

Upon receiving acceptable answers to these questions and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an provider that is a good match to service your policy.

Do I just need basic coverages?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions can help discover if your situation might need professional guidance.

• How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Missouri?
• Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
• What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
• Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Chesterfield?

If you’re not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Chesterfield Rates are Influenced by These Factors

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

• Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles you can purchase if you aren’t careful. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and membership fees may be wasting your money. They may seem good at first, but your needs may have changed so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
• Younger drivers pay higher rates – Mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Youthful drivers are known to get distracted easily in a vehicle therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
• Safer occupants lowers premiums – Safer cars can get you lower premiums. These vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.
• Better credit means lower rates – Credit rating is a huge factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower ratings. So if your credit can use some improvement, you could be paying less to insure your by repairing your credit.
• Lower miles equals lower premium – The higher the mileage driven in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
• Your stress level may be raising your rates – Occupations like lawyers, social workers and stock brokers have the highest rates due to high stress and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, occupations such as pilots, students and the unemployed get better rates.

Don’t listen to company ads

Auto insurance providers like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads in print and on television. They all make an identical promise that you can save after switching to them. How can each company say the same thing?

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don’t qualify for these standards will be charged a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why insurance companies can claim big savings.

That is why it’s extremely important to get quotes from several different companies. It’s impossible to know the company that will have the lowest rates.

Better coverage you can count on

As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Low-cost auto insurance can be purchased on the web in addition to many Chesterfield insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Additional auto insurance information can be read on the website for the Missouri Department of Insurance located here. Missouri consumers can view agent and company licensing information, get help finding coverage, read consumer alerts, and read industry bulletins.