Uncover the Secrets to Paying Less for Billings Montana Auto Insurance

Paying for high-priced auto insurance can overdraw your bank account and put a big crunch on your finances. Shopping your coverage around is free and is an excellent way to help make ends meet.

Since consumers have many choices, it can be diffult for consumers to pick the best car insurance company.

Consumers should take time to price shop coverage every six months since rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best price last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Starting right now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts to help bring down the price. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for before they will apply.

No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less when compared to bad drivers.
College Student – Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.
Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy life insurance.
Lower Rates for Military – Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Senior Citizens – If you’re over the age of 55, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
Multi-policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.
Driver’s Ed – Have your child enroll in driver’s education in high school.
Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

To choose companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Montana, click here.

It’s not one size fits all

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions might help in determining whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.

Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Montana?
Should I buy only the required Montana minimum liability coverage?
Is Montana a no-fault state?
When would I need additional glass coverage?
What discounts do I qualify for?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Comparing rates from local agents

A small number of people would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is you can get lower rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from local insurance agencies is especially important in Billings. auto insurance image

After completing this short form, your information is sent to companies in Billings who will give you bids to get your business. You don’t have to drive around as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. How cool is that?! You can find the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Auto insurance agents in Billings come in two varieties

If you’re trying to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two different types of agents that you can select. Agents are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part.

When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to contact several independent insurance agents for the best price selection.

Below is a short list of independent agencies in Billings that can give you competitive price quotes.

David Blackman Agency – 1132 Central Ave – Billings, MT 59102 – (406) 248-5547
All State Insurance – 926 Main St – Billings, MT 59105 – (406) 259-1616
Ron Dague Insurance – 740 Topaz Ave – Billings, MT 59105 – (406) 248-3593
Bidlake Agency Inc – 2905 Millennium # 3 – Billings, MT 59102 – (406) 245-6224
Mountain Agency – 1643 24th St W # 310 – Billings, MT 59102 – (406) 652-7424

Captive Agents

Captive agencies have only one company to place business with and examples are AAA, Allstate and State Farm. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agencies are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

The following is a short list of captive insurance agents in Billings willing to provide price quote information.

Farmers Insurance Group – 848 Main St # 5a – Billings, MT 59105 – (406) 252-1644
Farm Bureau Insurance – 1597 Avenue D # 5 – Billings, MT 59102 – (406) 255-2333
Allstate Insurance – 2646 Grand Ave – Billings, MT 59102 – (406) 652-8226
State Farm Insurance – 1948 Grand Ave – Billings, MT 59102 – (406) 252-1915

For a complete listing of captive insurance agents in Billings, go to this page.

Picking an auto insurance agent should depend on more than just a low price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
What insurance companies do they work with?
Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?

After getting reasonable responses for all questions you ask and an affordable coverage quote, you’ve probably found an insurance agent that can adequately provide auto insurance.

Learn more today

More information can be found on the website for the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance through this link. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, find out which companies have the most complaints, read consumer alerts, and discover disciplinary actions.

Keep this in mind

Cheap auto insurance is attainable from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Billings, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies don’t offer online quoting and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

We’ve covered a lot of techniques to get a better price on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the best price on auto insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where someone dropped full coverage only to find out that it was a big mistake. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.