Costing Too Much for Auto Insurance in Tupelo Mississippi? Here’s How to Save!

Overwhelmed by the dozens of auto insurance companies in Tupelo? You have a lot of company. There are so many options that it can turn into a real challenge to find lower rates.

You should take the time to price shop coverage every six months since insurance rates change quite often. Even if you got the lowest rates a year ago you can probably find a better price now. So ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the quickest way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Locating more affordable auto insurance coverage in Tupelo can be fairly easy. Just about every driver who buys auto insurance will most likely be able to save money. But Mississippi drivers can benefit by having an understanding of how the larger insurance companies market on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but some must be requested specifically in order for you to get them.

  • Theft Prevention System – Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Student Driver Training – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.
  • Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
  • More Vehicles More Savings – Having multiple cars or trucks on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • One Accident Forgiven – Certain companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
  • Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you could get a free auto insurance policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any amount of discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Mississippi, click here.

Vehicle Insurance Comparison

Most companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO allow you to get prices online. Getting online rates doesn’t take much effort as you just enter your required coverages as requested by the quote form. After you submit the form the system requests your driving and credit reports and returns a price quote based on these and other factors.

Being able to quote online streamlines rate comparisons, but the time required to go to many different websites and complete many quote forms can be a bit tiresome and repetitive. But it’s very important to perform this step if you are searching for the lowest auto insurance rates.

The easy way to compare rates

A quicker way to compare rates requires only one form that obtains quotes from a lot of companies. This type of form saves time, eliminates repetitive work, and makes comparison shopping much easier. Immediately after submitting the form, it is rated and you are able to buy your choice of the returned quotes.

If you find a better price it’s easy to complete the application and purchase coverage. The entire process just takes a couple of minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

In order to get comparison pricing now, click here and fill out the form. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you copy the limits and deductibles as shown on your current policy. This makes sure you will have an apples-to-apples comparison based on the exact same insurance coverage.

Factors that affect insurance rates

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Where you live can impact rates – Choosing to live in a small town is a positive aspect when talking about auto insurance. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers in populated Mississippi areas have more traffic problems and longer commutes to work. More time commuting can result in more accidents.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations such as lawyers, architects and dentists have the highest average rates because of high stress levels and lengthy work days. Other professions such as farmers, historians and homemakers get better rates.
  • Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a lot of add-on coverages that can waste your money when buying auto insurance. Things like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor and your next policy will cost more because you let your coverage lapse. And not only will your rates increase, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance may earn you a steep fine or even jail time.You may need to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Mississippi DMV.
  • Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Many auto insurance companies will award you with lower prices to customers who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even with this discount, you still need to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Situations that might require an agent

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage, there is no cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.

  • If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
  • Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
  • Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
  • Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
  • Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?

If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form.

What happened to insurance agents?

Some people prefer to get advice from a local agent. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is that you can obtain the lowest rates but also keep your business local. Buying from local businesses is important especially in Tupelo.

After completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is sent to agents in your area who will battle for your business. There is no need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to your email. How cool is that?! It’s the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with.

Types of insurance agents

When searching for a local agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Tupelo are categorized either independent or captive.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency. When shopping rates, you should always include price quotes from several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection. Most have the option of insuring with lesser-known insurance companies who may have lower rates.

Shown below is a list of independent insurance agents in Tupelo that may be able to provide rate quotes.

  • Chrestman Agency – 4110 Westside Dr # B – Tupelo, MS 38801 – (662) 841-1774
  • Nowell Agency – 2270 Mccullough Blvd – Tupelo, MS 38801 – (662) 844-1944
  • Direct General Ins Agency – 526 S Gloster St – Tupelo, MS 38801 – (662) 841-1311
  • United American Insurance Co – 2139 Southridge Dr – Tupelo, MS 38801 – (662) 844-4644
  • Edge and Edge Insurance – 280 S Thomas St – Tupelo, MS 38801 – (662) 842-7750
Captive Agents

Captive insurance agents write business for a single company and some examples include State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage. Some people will only buy insurance from these agents mainly due to the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.

Listed below are captive agencies in Tupelo that are able to give comparison quotes.

  • State Farm Insurance – 705 W Main St – Tupelo, MS 38804 – (662) 842-1142
  • Shelter Insurance – 2604 W Main St # G – Tupelo, MS 38801 – (662) 840-6107
  • Farm Bureau Insurance – 1596 N Veterans Blvd – Tupelo, MS 38804 – (662) 842-7034

For a full directory of captive insurance agencies in Tupelo, please view this page.

Deciding on an insurance agent requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:

  • Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
  • Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
  • Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
  • Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
  • Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?

After receiving positive responses to your questions and a low price estimate, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to service your policy.

Save $454 a year? Really?

State Farm, Allstate and GEICO continually stream television and radio advertisements. All the companies have a common claim that you can save after switching your coverage to them. How can each company make almost identical claims?

Different companies can use profiling for the type of customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any new insured who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who are not a match for these standards will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, it’s extremely important to compare many company’s rates. Because you never know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal

As you shop your coverage around, do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed full coverage and found out when filing a claim that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.

Cheap auto insurance is possible on the web as well as from independent agents in Tupelo, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Drivers leave their current company for any number of reasons including delays in paying claims, poor customer service, delays in responding to claim requests and even high rates after DUI convictions. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a great new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

Additional Mississippi car insurance resources

More information can be read on the Mississippi Insurance Department website found here. Mississippi drivers can view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, and find out which companies have the most complaints.