6 Tricks to Slash Auto Insurance Rates in Grand Island, NE

Comparison shopping for Grand Island auto insurance is always nearly impossible for consumers not familiar with buying insurance online. Consumers have so many choices that it can easily become a ton of work to compare prices in Grand Island.

Finding the best rates in Grand Island is not that difficult. Just about every driver who is shopping for auto insurance will be able to lower their premiums. But Nebraska consumers can benefit by having an understanding of how insurance companies price insurance differently and use this information to your advantage.

Auto Insurance Prices in Grand Island

There are several ways of comparing rates and find the best price. The recommended way to compare insurance prices consists of shopping online. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

  • The first (and easiest) way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This easy form saves time by eliminating repetitive form entry for each company you want a rate for. One simple form gets rate comparisons from several companies.It’s the quickest way to get rates.
  • A more time consuming way to compare prices requires a trip to the website for every company you want to comare and request a quote. For example, let’s assume you want to compare Nationwide, 21st Century and Farmers. To get each rate you have to go to every website and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    For a handy list of car insurance company links in Grand Island, click here.

  • The least recommended method to get comparison rates is to waste gas driving to insurance agents’ offices. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. It is possible to comparison shop your insurance online but still have the advice of a local agent and we’ll touch on that later.

It’s up to you which method you use, but make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you have different limits and deductibles on each one it’s not possible to find the best deal in Grand Island. Having just a slight variation in limits may result in large price differences. Just remember that quoting more will increase your chances of finding a lower rate.

Slick advertising tricks that work

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. They all seem to make an identical promise of big savings after switching your policy. How do they all make the same claim? This is how they do it.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. A customer who matches those parameters will get very good rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential customers who are not a match for the “perfect” profile must pay higher rates and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why it’s extremely important to quote coverage with many companies. It’s just too difficult to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Pay less if you’re married – Having a spouse helps lower the price when buying auto insurance. Having a spouse means you’re more mature than a single person and it’s proven that married couples file fewer claims.
  • Mature drivers pay less – Teen drivers in Nebraska are known to be less responsible behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Adding a teenage driver to your policy can be very expensive. Older drivers tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.
  • Are you male or female? – Statistics demonstrate women tend to be less risk to insure than men. Now that doesn’t mean men are worse drivers. Women and men cause accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI.
  • Pleasure use saves money – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers apply a rate based on their usage. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Better credit scores mean better rates – Having a bad credit score is a huge factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have lower ratings. So if your credit history is low, you could pay less to insure your by repairing your credit.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? – The liability section of your policy is the coverage that protects you in the event that a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. It provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
  • Add-on coverages can add up – There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Things like vanishing deductibles, accidental death and membership fees may be wasting your money. They may seem good initially, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.

Don’t miss these discounts

Companies don’t always list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both the well known as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

  • Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
  • Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • College Student – Children who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
  • Senior Discount – Older drivers may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
  • Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Federal Employees – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
  • Auto/Life Discount – Some companies give better rates if you take out life insurance.
  • Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
  • Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Grand Island, click this link.

Price shop online but buy from a local Grand Island agent

Some people just want to visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you may find lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.

After filling out this form (opens in new window), the quote information gets sent to companies in Grand Island who will give you bids to get your business. You never need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. It doesn’t get any easier! You’ll get the best rates AND a local agent.

Choosing an insurer should depend on more than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

  • Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
  • Does the agency support the community they serve?
  • How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
  • Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
  • What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
  • Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Nebraska?

Choose an insurance agent wisely

If you’re trying to find a local agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Grand Island agents are categorized either independent or captive.

Captive Agents

Captive agencies can only place business with one company and examples are Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They receive extensive training on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers frequently choose to use a captive agent partially due to loyalty to the company and solid financial strength.

Shown below are captive insurance agencies in Grand Island who may provide you with price quotes.

  • American Family Insurance – 2514 N Webb Rd – Grand Island, NE 68803 – (308) 384-4188
  • Allstate Insurance – 1811 W 2nd St # 111 – Grand Island, NE 68803 – (308) 382-4199
  • Farm Bureau Insurance – 1503 W 2nd St # B – Grand Island, NE 68801 – (308) 382-6230
  • State Farm Insurance – 3610 W Capital Ave – Grand Island, NE 68803 – (308) 384-0461
  • Farmers Insurance Group – 2424 S Locust St # A – Grand Island, NE 68801 – (308) 389-3080
Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, you should always include price quotes from multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection. Most have the option of insuring with smaller regional carriers which can save you money.

Below are Grand Island independent agents who can help you get price quotes.

  • TIG Insurance – 1300 S Locust St # D – Grand Island, NE 68801 – (308) 381-4564
  • Travis Skiles Agency – 2400 W 2nd St # 10 – Grand Island, NE 68803 – (308) 398-8006
  • Sean Gellatly Insurance – 1233 N Webb Rd # 300 – Grand Island, NE 68803 – (308) 384-5144
  • Ron Ziemba Agency Inc – 3231 Ramada Rd # 2 – Grand Island, NE 68801 – (308) 381-8984
  • Spiehs Agency Inc – 118 W 4th St – Grand Island, NE 68801 – (308) 384-1943

To view a complete directory of insurance agents in Grand Island, please click here.

Once you have acceptable answers to all your questions as well as a affordable price, you may have just found an insurance agency that can properly insure your vehicles.

Shop smart and save

Cost effective auto insurance is attainable online and also from your neighborhood Grand Island agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that they should have had better coverage. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price.

Drivers switch companies for any number of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, extreme rates for teen drivers, being labeled a high risk driver and even unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a great new company can be less work than you think.

Additional detailed information can be read at the Nebraska Department of Insurance website. Nebraska consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, file complaints about a company, read consumer alerts, and discover disciplinary actions.