Top Ways to Save When Shopping for Insurance for Your Jeep Compass

No one in their right mind cherishes buying auto insurance, particularly when their premiums are too high. Multiple auto insurance companies compete for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates and get the definite cheapest price

If you have a policy now or are looking for a new policy, you can follow these tips to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding the best rates is not rocket science. Vehicle owners just need to understand the most effective way to shop their coverage around online.

Discounts are great for lower rates

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Seat Belts Save – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Auto/Life Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance.
Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance on Compass coverage.
Driver Safety – Completing a driver safety course could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
One Accident Forgiven – Certain companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free prior to the accident.
Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Senior Citizens – Older drivers may receive a discount up to 10% on Compass coverage.
Multi-car Discount – Insuring more than one vehicle with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
Distant Student – Youth drivers who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

Why your Jeep Compass insurance rates may be high

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

The type of vehicle makes a difference – The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in how high your rates are. The lowest rates are generally reserved for small economy passenger models, but there are many factors that impact the final cost. Since the Jeep Compass is considered a standard SUV, insuring your vehicle will cost slighty more than the average rate where you live.
Optional equipment can affect rates – Driving a car with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your car from being stolen.
Do men or women drive better? – Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Men and women tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Protect yourself with liability coverage – Liability coverage will protect you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not skimp.
Never let your coverage lapse – Not having insurance is illegal and your next policy will cost more because you let your insurance expire. And not only will your rates increase, failure to provide proof of insurance might get you a steep fine or even jail time.You may have to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with your state motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.

You may need specialized coverage

When buying coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Every situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if you could use an agent’s help.

Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
What are the financial responsibility laws in my state?
Is my Jeep Compass covered for flood damage?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
What discounts do I qualify for?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Quote online but still have a local agent

A small number of people prefer to buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. Licensed agents can answer important questions and give you peace of mind. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you may find the best rates and still choose a local agent.

To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, the quote information is sent to companies who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. How cool is that?! Auto insurance in

Picking a company should depend on more than just a low price. Here are some questions to ask:

Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
Are they full-time agents?
Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?

Different types of insurance agents

When finding a good insurance agent, there are a couple of different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies are either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know the difference between them because it can influence your selection of an agent.

Captive Agents

This type of agents work for only one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part.

When comparing rates, you should always get quotes from several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.

For a complete listing of agents, click here.

Upon receiving positive responses to any questions you have and an affordable coverage quote, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that can properly service your auto insurance policy.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to make the same claim that you’ll save big if you change to them.

But how can every company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of customer they prefer to insure. For example, a profitable customer might be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and as a result will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Consumers who fall outside the “perfect” profile must pay higher prices and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That is how companies can state the savings. This illustrates why you absolutely need to get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped full coverage and discovered at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

We just showed you a lot of ways to shop for Jeep Compass insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the best prices are with the smaller companies. Regional companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.