5 Must-Know Tricks When Buying Wausau Wisconsin Auto Insurance

If price shopping auto insurance online is new to you, you may be confused by the large number of companies vying for business in Wausau.

You need to check auto insurance prices periodically because rates go up and down regularly. Even if you think you had the lowest price a year ago there may be better deals available now. So forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Finding Auto Insurance Deals in Wausau

There are a lot of ways to compare auto insurance prices and some are less time-consuming than others. You can spend your afternoon talking to insurance companies in Wausau, or you could use the web to get the quickest rates.

Most of the best insurance companies belong to a marketplace that enables customers to submit their information once, and every company can provide price quotes determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do quote requests to each company.

To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here to open in new window.

The only drawback to using this type of system is that you can’t choose which carriers to get pricing from. So if you want to choose specific providers to compare rates, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in Wisconsin. Click here for list of insurance companies in Wisconsin.

Whichever way you use, ensure you’re using exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles for each price quote. If each company quotes unequal deductibles or liability limits then you won’t be able to find the best deal in Wausau. Just a small difference in limits may result in large price differences. And when comparison shopping, getting more free quotes will increase your chances of finding better pricing.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. Some discounts apply automatically when you get a quote, but a few need to be asked about before you will receive the discount.

Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
Sign Early and Save – Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.
Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
Own a Home – Owning a house in Wausau can save you money because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have a discount if you purchase life insurance.
Bundle and Save – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on the same auto insurance policy could earn a price break for each car.
55 and Retired – Mature drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.

It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky. But any discount will help reduce the cost of coverage.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Wausau

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in big savings.

Shown below are a few of the “ingredients” companies use to determine premiums.

Being married can save on auto insurance – Having a spouse helps lower the price on your auto insurance policy. Having a spouse usually means you are more mature than a single person and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
Low deductibles can be expensive – Deductibles for physical damage define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and rolling your vehicle. The more expense you’re willing to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
Do you have a high stress job? – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Jobs such as doctors, social workers and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates because of stressful work requirements and long work days. Other occupations like scientists, historians and homemakers pay the least.
Extra coverages can waste money – There are quite a few extra coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, better glass coverage and motor club memberships are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if you don’t need them eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

Can’t I compare rates from local Wausau agents?

Some consumers would rather get advice from a local agent and that is OK! The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you can get the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local agencies is definitely important in Wausau. car insurance image

Once you complete this form (opens in new window), the quote information is emailed to local insurance agents who will battle to get your business. There is no reason to leave your computer since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy! It’s the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.

What type of Wausau auto insurance agent is right for you?

If you’re trying to find local Wausau agents, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Wausau agents can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part. When comparing rates, we recommend you include several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

Below is a short list of independent agencies in Wausau that may be able to provide price quotes.

Heather Bresnahan Agency – 1015 6th St – Wausau, WI 54403 – (715) 842-9608
Peter Sells Agency – 2600 Stewart Ave – Wausau, WI 54401 – (715) 843-0040
Clements Agency – 319 N 6th Ave – Wausau, WI 54401 – (715) 845-3804
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 2100 Stewart Ave # 145 – Wausau, WI 54401 – (715) 848-2981
Bedar Insurance – 1013 S 3rd Ave – Wausau, WI 54401 – (715) 848-3401

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents write business for a single company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents are well schooled on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage. Some consumers prefer to buy insurance from these agents primarily because of loyalty to the company and solid financial strength.

Shown below is a short list of captive insurance agents in Wausau that are able to give price quote information.

American Family Insurance – 2100 Grand Ave – Wausau, WI 54403 – (715) 845-8251
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 2100 Stewart Ave # 145 – Wausau, WI 54401 – (715) 848-2981
State Farm Insurance – 505 S 24th Ave # 300 – Wausau, WI 54401 – (715) 842-4610

To view a full list of Wausau captive agencies, please view this page.

Picking an insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the price. Agents should be asked these questions:

If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
Which company do they place the most coverage with?
Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?

Upon getting reasonable responses to your questions and locked in a price quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that will provide auto insurance coverage.

When should I talk to an agent?

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

These are some specific questions might help in determining whether you would benefit from professional advice.

Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
Do I need motorclub coverage?
Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?

If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.

Additional information can be found on the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, get help finding coverage, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include III.org’s auto insurance page and CarInsuranceDIY.com.

Shop smart and save

You just learned a lot of tips how to get a better price on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a lesser-known regional company.

When you buy insurance online, make sure you don’t reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate.

Drivers switch companies for many reasons like questionable increases in premium, high prices, denial of a claim and even not issuing a premium refund. No matter why you want to switch, switching companies is actually quite simple.