Things You Must Know Before Shopping for Bottineau Car Insurance Online

Finding affordable Bottineau car insurance is hard for consumers new to comparison shopping online. Consumers have so many options that it can be a big hassle to locate the lowest price in Bottineau.

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Getting a cheaper price on insurance isn’t really that difficult. You just need to take time comparing price quotes from different insurance companies. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

Probably the best way to find low rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This easy form eliminates the need for separate quotation requests for each company. Completing one form will get you price quotes . This is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time.
A more difficult way to find lower rates requires visiting each individual company website and complete a new quote form. For example, we’ll pretend you want to compare GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Bottineau, click here.
The least efficient method to get comparison rates is to waste gas driving to different Bottineau agent offices. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you have a need for the personal advice of a licensed agent. You can, however, comparison shop your insurance online but buy from a local insurance agent. We’ll cover that shortly.

It’s up to you which method you use, but make darn sure you compare identical coverage limits with every price quote. If you use mixed coverages it’s impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Bottineau.

Don’t miss out on these money-saving discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied before you get the savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared with bad drivers.
Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
Clubs and Organizations – Affiliation with a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Drivers Ed for Students – Have your child take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
New Vehicle Savings – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with a few car insurance companies.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the cost of coverage.

Do I need a local agent?

Some people prefer to talk to a local agent. Good agents can help determine the best coverages and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is you may find the best rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local agencies is important especially in Bottineau.

For easy comparison, once you complete this simple form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to companies in Bottineau who will battle for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier!

Not all car insurance agents are the same

If you’re trying to find a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents to choose from. Bottineau agents are either independent (non-captive) or captive. While both can write coverage properly, but it’s important to know the differences since it may influence your selection of an agent. North Dakota insurance cheap

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When comparing rates, it’s recommended you include at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller regional carriers who may have lower rates.

Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Bottineau that may be able to provide price quote information.

Western Agency Inc – 515 Main St – Bottineau, ND 58318 – (701) 228-3535
Don Richard Insurance – 321 13th St W – Bottineau, ND 58318 – (701) 228-2610
First State Insurance – 114 5th St W – Bottineau, ND 58318 – (701) 228-2302

Agency Captives

This type of agents work for only one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. Captives cannot shop your coverage around so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They are well schooled on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers often purchase coverage from captives mostly because of high brand loyalty and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Listed below is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Bottineau who can help you get comparison quotes.

American Family Insurance – 521 Main St # 2 – Bottineau, ND 58318 – (701) 228-2435
State Farm Insurance – 115 11th St E – Bottineau, ND 58318 – (701) 228-3022

To view a complete directory of captive agencies in Bottineau, go to this page.

Selecting a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in North Dakota?
Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?

After getting satisfactory answers to your questions and locked in a price quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that meets your needs to provide car insurance coverage.

More information is located on the North Dakota Insurance Department website through this link. North Dakota consumers can learn about specific coverages, find a variety of consumer forms, and read industry bulletins.

Compare but don’t skimp

Discount car insurance can be found on the web and with local Bottineau insurance agents, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where someone dropped physical damage coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big error on their part. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including being labeled a high risk driver, policy non-renewal, questionable increases in premium and even poor customer service. Whatever your reason, finding the right car insurance provider is not as difficult as it may seem.