Top 8 Ways to Save on Auto Insurance in Lewiston Idaho

Cutting costs on Lewiston auto insurance is always challenging for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. There are so many choices that it can turn into a real hassle to find lower rates in Lewiston.

Consumers need to compare rates every six months since rates go up and down regularly. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal a few years ago you may be paying too much now. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance online, so we’re going to give you some guaranteed methods to buy auto insurance cheaper.

Policy discounts you shouldn’t miss

Companies do not advertise every discount very well, so we took the time to find some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

• Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
• Military Rewards – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
• Organization Discounts – Participating in a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
• New Car Discount – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
• 55 and Retired – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
• Paperwork-free – Certain companies will give a small break just for signing your application digitally online.
• Discount for Swiching Early – Select companies give a discount for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. The savings is around 10%.
• Driver’s Ed – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

For a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Idaho, follow this link.

Do auto insurance companies bend the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive consistently run ads on television and other media. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings if you change your coverage to them. How do they all make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured might be profiled as over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who do not match these standards will be charged higher premiums which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads state “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. That is why it is so important to quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Insurance agents can help

When buying the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if your situation may require specific advice.

• Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
• Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
• How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

Auto insurance coverages

Knowing the specifics of your policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Coverage for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for EMT expenses, dental work, chiropractic care and prosthetic devices. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Comprehensive coverages

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive can pay for things like damage from getting keyed, hail damage, damage from flooding and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Collision coverage

Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for claims such as scraping a guard rail, backing into a parked car, sustaining damage from a pot hole and hitting a mailbox. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

Liability auto insurance

Liability insurance protects you from damage that occurs to other’s property or people. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 100/300/100 that translate to $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000.

Liability can pay for things like legal defense fees, emergency aid and medical expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. Idaho state minimum liability requirements are 20,000/50,000/15,000 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and damage to your vehicle.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 20/50/15), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.

Even more information can be found at the Idaho Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read state legal mandates and laws, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read consumer alerts.

Other useful links include Wikipedia and this page where you can also get Lewiston auto insurance quotes.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

Lower-priced auto insurance is attainable both online in addition to many Lewiston insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online quoting and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We just showed you many ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the best price on auto insurance is with a lesser-known regional company.

Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including high prices, delays in responding to claim requests, high rates after DUI convictions or extreme rates for teen drivers. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new company is not as hard as you think.