Methods for Lowering Your Deer Lodge Auto Insurance Rates

Comparison shopping for Deer Lodge auto insurance is nearly impossible for beginners to buying insurance online. There are so many choices that it can quickly become a real hassle to compare prices in Deer Lodge.

It’s a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates at least once a year due to the fact that insurance rates trend upward over time. If you had the best price a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the fastest way to find better coverage at a better price.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using this strategy. The purpose of this post is to teach you how to get online quotes and some tricks to saving. Although Montana consumers should learn the way insurance companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.

Many Things Influence your Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the items that factor into rates.

Proper usage rating affects rates – Driving more miles each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers price each vehicle’s coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Cars that are left in the garage get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Verify your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
What are your deductibles? – The deductibles define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and windstorm damage. The more expense you have to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
More performance means more cost – The performance of the car you own makes a huge difference in determining your rates. The most favorable rates tend to be for lower performance four cylinder passenger vehicles, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Liability coverage is cheap – The liability section of your policy is the protection if a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Males pay more for insurance – Statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don’t assume that women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women are in accidents in similar numbers, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving.
Occupation reflects on rates – Jobs such as lawyers, executives and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates attributed to stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Other jobs such as pilots, historians and retirees pay the least.
Lower rates with optional equipment – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.

Deer Lodge Auto Insurance Quote Comparison

There are a variety of methods to shop for auto insurance, but there is one way that is more efficient than others. You could spend the better part of a day discussing policy coverages with insurance companies in Deer Lodge, or you can utilize online quotes to maximize your effort.

Most of the best insurance companies belong to a marketplace where insurance shoppers submit one quote, and each company then gives them pricing based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms for every auto insurance company.

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

The only downside to comparing rates this way is that consumers can’t choose the providers to get quotes from. If you wish to select from a list of companies for rate comparison, we have a page of companies who write auto insurance in Montana. View list of Montana insurance companies.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you’re using identical information for each price quote. If the quotes have unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Deer Lodge. Slightly different limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. It’s important to know that getting more free quotes will increase your chances of finding the best rates.

Take discounts and save

Companies don’t necessarily list all their discounts very well, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. save money concept

Discount for New Cars – Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
Multiple Cars – Insuring all your vehicles with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
Driver’s Ed – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
College Student – Youth drivers who live away from home and do not have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
Sign Early and Save – A few companies offer discounts for buying a policy before your current expiration date. It can save you around 10%.
Auto/Life Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
Homeowners Discount – Owning a home in Deer Lodge can save you money because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
Defensive Driver – Successfully completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
Low Mileage – Low mileage vehicles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.

It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

Price shop online but buy from a local Deer Lodge agent

Some consumers just want to get advice from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you can get the lowest rates but also keep your business local.

Once you complete this short form, the coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents who will battle for your business. There is no reason to leave your house as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. How cool is that?! You can find better rates AND a local agent.

Deciding on an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just a low price. These questions are important to ask:

Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
How long has their agency been open in Deer Lodge?
How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?

Choose the right insurance agency

When researching a local agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures from which to choose. Deer Lodge agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive).

Agency Captives

Captive agencies write business for a single company like AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents are trained well in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers frequently purchase coverage from captives primarily because of high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agencies are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and that require little work on your part. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.Many can place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which may provide better rates.

Below are independent insurance agents in Deer Lodge that can give you rate quotes.

Clawson Insurance – 400 Missouri Ave – Deer Lodge, MT 59722 – (406) 846-1411

For a complete listing of auto insurance agents in Deer Lodge, please click here.

Upon receiving good answers to all your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that can properly service your auto insurance policy.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Every insured’s situation is different.

These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
What are the financial responsibility laws in Montana?
Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.

Even more information is available at the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, report car insurance fraud, get help finding coverage, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Smart consumers save more

As you restructure your insurance plan, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Low-cost auto insurance is possible online and with local Deer Lodge insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

We just showed you a lot of ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small local company.