Lincoln Nebraska Car Insurance Savings the Companies Don’t Want You to Know About

If shopping for car insurance online is new to you, it’s easy to get confused by the vast number of online companies vying for business in Lincoln.

Compare the Market for Car Insurance in Lincoln

There are multiple methods you can shop for car insurance but there is one way that is less time-consuming than others. You could waste a few hours discussing policy coverages with agents in Lincoln, or you could save time and use online quotes to get pricing more quickly.

Many popular insurance companies belong to an insurance system where insurance shoppers send in one quote, and each participating company returns a rated price based on the submitted data. This system prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions to each company.

To enter your information into the quoting system, click here to start a free quote.

The only drawback to comparing rates this way is that consumers can’t choose which providers you will receive quotes from. If you wish to select specific providers to compare prices, we have a listing of low cost car insurance companies in Nebraska. Click here to view list.

Whichever method you choose, be sure to compare the exact same coverages and limits with each company. If the quotes have different limits and deductibles on each one it will be next to impossible to make an equal comparison in Lincoln. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages may result in a large different in cost. And when comparison shopping, comparing more company’s prices provides better odds of finding the best price.

Companies offer discounts so take them!

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you may find discounts that you may not know about. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically before you get the savings.

  • Sign Online – A few companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing online.
  • Government Employees – Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
  • Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Payment Discounts – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.

It’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don’t profit that way. But any discount will cut the cost of coverage.

For a list of providers with discount car insurance rates in Lincoln, click here to view.

Buy Cheaper Car Insurance with These Tips

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that go into determining car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in better car insurance rates.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate premiums.car insurance image

  • Clean credit earns discounts – Your credit rating is a huge factor in calculating your car insurance rates. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than drivers with lower credit scores. Therefore, if your credit score can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
  • Males pay more for insurance – The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Women and men cause accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species have costlier accidents. Men also tend to get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore have the most expensive car insurance rates.
  • Frequent car insurance claims increase rates – If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance companies in Nebraska provide discounts to drivers who do not file claims often. Car insurance is intended for larger claims.
  • Being married is a good thing – Being married actually saves money on car insurance. Marriage is viewed as being more mature and responsible and statistics show married couples file fewer claims.
  • Proper usage rating affects rates – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the more you will pay for car insurance. Most companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos that are left in the garage receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your car insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates – Occupations such as lawyers, executives and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average due to stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, occupations like scientists, athletes and retirees have the lowest average rates.

Neighborhood insurance agents

A small number of people just want to talk to a local agent. The best thing about price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find better rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from small agencies is especially important in Lincoln.

For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, your coverage information is sent to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your business. You never need to leave your house since price quotes are sent directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! It’s the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

If you want to select a specific agent in Lincoln, view this link.

Selecting a company needs to be determined by more than just the price. Some important questions to ask are:

  • Who are their largest clients?
  • Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
  • Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
  • Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
  • Are they full-time agents?
  • What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?

Upon getting satisfactory answers for all questions you ask and an affordable coverage quote, you’ve probably found an provider that meets your needs to insure your vehicles.

When might I need the advice of an agent?

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

For example, these questions could help you determine if you may require specific advice.

  • Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • When would I need rental car insurance?
  • What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Nebraska?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

Much more information about car insurance in Nebraska can be read on the Nebraska Department of Insurance website found here. Nebraska consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Other useful links include this resource for Nebraska car insurance prices and this page of insurance agents in Lincoln.

Misconceptions in car insurance advertisements

Car insurance companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive consistently run ads in print and on television. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you change your policy. But how can every company claim to save you money?

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All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a driver they prefer might be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. Any new insured who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don’t meet this ideal profile must pay more money and this can result in business not being written. The ads say “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. That’s why insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

This illustrates why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Final considerations

Drivers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as an unsatisfactory settlement offer, not issuing a premium refund, poor customer service or policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason, finding a new company can be easy and end up saving you some money.

Budget-conscious car insurance is definitely available both online and with local Lincoln insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Some companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

We just covered many ideas to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a smaller regional carrier.