Tightwads Guide to Saving on Bountiful, UT Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your bank account and make it hard to pay other bills. Doing a price comparison is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to lower your monthly bill.

Having so many companies and agents to choose from, it can be diffult for consumers to locate the right insurer.

Buying car insurance in Bountiful is not that difficult. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. But Utah consumers need to learn how companies sell insurance online and take advantage of how the system works.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Bountiful

To find the best auto insurance prices, there are several ways of comparing rate quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The simplest method to find the cheapest insurance rates is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way to get the best comparison quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison click to view form in new window. This easy form saves time by eliminating multiple quote forms for each company. One form gets you price quotes from auto insurance companies with the best prices.
A less efficient way to analyze rates is to manually visit each company’s website to request a price quote. For sake of this example, we’ll pretend you want rates from Liberty Mutual, Esurance and Travelers. You would have to visit each site and enter your information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.
For a handy list of car insurance company links in Bountiful, click here.
The least efficient method of getting rate comparisons is driving around to insurance agents’ offices. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the personal advice that only a license agent can provide. Drivers can comparison shop your insurance online but buy from a local insurance agent. We’ll cover that shortly.

Which method you use is up to you, but make absolute certain that you use exactly the same coverages and limits for every company. If you are comparing higher or lower deductibles it will be very difficult to decipher which rate is best in Bountiful. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. Keep in mind that quoting more helps locate the best offered rates.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all seem to say the same thing that you’ll save big if you move your policy. How can each company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer could be over the age of 40, owns a home, and has a short commute. A customer who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Consumers who don’t meet these standards will be quoted a more expensive rate and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That is how companies can truthfully make those claims. This emphasizes why you absolutely need to get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know the company that will fit your personal profile best.

How your Bountiful rates are determined

It’s important that you understand the factors that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” that factor into prices. Car insurance in Bountiful UT

Pleasure use saves money – The higher the mileage driven each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies apply a rate based on their usage. Cars used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
Better credit means lower rates – A driver’s credit history is a huge factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. So if your credit rating is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than those with lower credit scores.
Men pay higher rates – Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don’t assume that men are worse drivers. Men and women cause accidents at a similar rate, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
Bundling policies can get discounts – Some insurers provide better rates to insureds who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
Save money with special equipment – Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder auto theft.
Rates may be lower depending on your job – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as real estate brokers, social workers and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates because of job stress and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, professions such as pilots, engineers and performers have the lowest average rates.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance.

Sign Online – Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
Military Rewards – Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Clubs and Organizations – Participating in a qualifying organization could trigger savings on auto insurance.
Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Bountiful may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Discounts for Safe Drivers – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more than drivers with accident claims.
Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to use their safety belts can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn’t work that way.

Do I need a local agent?

Some people would prefer to sit down with an agent and that is just fine! The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the best rates but still work with a licensed agent.

After completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is sent to local insurance agents who will compete for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your house since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. How’s that for easy! You can find the lowest rates and work with a local agent.

Selecting an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
Who are their largest clients?
Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Utah?
Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?

What types of auto insurance agents are in Bountiful?

If you’re trying to find a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that you can select. Agents are either captive or independent (non-captive).

Captive Agents

These agents write business for a single company and some examples include AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. They are trained well in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.

Listed below are Bountiful captive insurance agents willing to provide rate quotes.

Farmers Insurance Group – 505 S Main St # 201 – Bountiful, UT 84010 – (801) 292-5060
American Family Insurance – 273 W 500 S # 21 – Bountiful, UT 84010 – (801) 296-2557
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 74 E 500 S # 104 – Bountiful, UT 84010 – (801) 295-8886
Allstate – 1835 High Pointe Dr – Bountiful, UT 84010 – (801) 397-9300

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to contact at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Below is a list of independent insurance agents in Bountiful who can help you get comparison quotes.

Mark G Kano Insurance Inc – 21 S 200 W – Bountiful, UT 84010 – (801) 298-2636
Realvalue Insurance – 190 N Main St # 200 – Bountiful, UT 84010 – (801) 298-3811
Dorothy M Nuffer Agency Inc – 152 W 500 S – Bountiful, UT 84010 – (801) 292-1230

For a full directory of Bountiful insurance agents, please go to this site.

After receiving answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask and locked in a price quote, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that can properly service your auto insurance policy.

Shop smart and save

As you shop your coverage around, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, drivers have reduced full coverage only to find out that it was a big error on their part. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

In this article, we presented many ideas to shop for auto insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be bought from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Bountiful agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers may not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Utah auto insurance information

Even more information can be found at the Utah Insurance Department website. Utah drivers can learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, discover disciplinary actions, and learn about specific coverages.