Never Buy Monroe Auto Insurance Without Knowing These Money Saving Tips

Shopping online for Monroe auto insurance can seem complicated if you’re new to online quotes. Don’t let that stop you because online price shopping is actually quite simple.

How to Compare Auto Insurance in Monroe, LA

Performing a rate comparison can be challenging if you don’t utilize the easiest way. You can waste hours talking about coverages with insurance companies in Monroe, or you could save time and use online quotes to get prices fast.

Most major companies take part in a program that enables customers to only type in their quote data once, and each participating company returns a rated price determined by their information. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests for each company you want a rate for.

To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here to open in new window.

The single downside to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify which companies to receive prices from. So if you want to choose specific providers to request quotes from, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in Louisiana. Click here to view list.

However you get your quotes, be sure to compare the exact same coverage limits and deductibles for each price quote. If your comparisons have differing limits it will be impossible to make an equal comparison in Monroe. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits can result in a big premium difference. And when price shopping your coverage, more quotes will increase your chances of finding the best offered rates.

Save money by taking advantage of these discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you may find discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied at quote time, but less common discounts must be inquired about prior to receiving the credit.

Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Monroe may earn you a small savings because owning a home requires personal responsibility.
Good Student – Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Paperwork-free – A few companies will give a small break just for signing your application on their website.
Discount for Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Military Rewards – Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
No Accidents – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts as compared to drivers who are more careless.
Driver Safety – Completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with certain companies.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce your premiums.

To choose providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Louisiana, click here.

Why you might pay higher rates in Monroe

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Understanding what determines base rates enables informed choices that could result in better auto insurance rates.

Car features impact rates – Owning a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent auto theft.
Pay less if you’re married – Having a spouse can actually save you money on your auto insurance policy. It translates into being more mature and responsible and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
Protect your assets with liability insurance – Your policy’s liability coverage will protect you when a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Never go without insurance – Having an insurance coverage lapse will be a guaranteed way to bump up your auto insurance costs. Not only will rates go up, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a license revocation or jail time.
Bad driving skills means higher rates – Good drivers have lower premiums than people who have multiple driving citations. Just one ticket can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. If you have severe violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.

Local Monroe agents and auto insurance

A small number of people prefer to talk to a local agent and that is just fine! The best thing about getting online price quotes is you may find better rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for small agencies is especially important in Monroe. save money image

Once you complete this simple form, the quote information is emailed to local insurance agents who will compete for your business. You never need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier! It’s the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

Captive or Independent: There is a difference

When researching a reliable agent, there are a couple of different agency structures to choose from. Agents are either captive or independent (non-captive).

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and that require little work on your part.

When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection. Most have the option of insuring with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.

Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Monroe that can give you price quotes.

Ron Powell Agency – 506 N 31st St # 1 – Monroe, LA 71201 – (318) 388-4870
Direct General Ins Agency – 2820 Louisville Ave – Monroe, LA 71201 – (318) 324-1132
Farm Bureau Insurance – 2100 Forsythe Ave – Monroe, LA 71201 – (318) 323-1344
Raymond Stewart Insurance Inc – 1869 Avenue Of America – Monroe, LA 71201 – (318) 387-3396
Thomas and Farr Agency Inc – 1010 N 9th St – Monroe, LA 71201 – (318) 388-1472

Captive Agents

Captive insurance agents work for only one company such as State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They are unable to compare other company’s rates so they have to upsell other benefits. They are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers often choose to use a captive agent mainly due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Listed below are Monroe captive agents that are able to give price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 509 Arkansas Ave – Monroe, LA 71201 – (318) 325-9442
Shelter Insurance – 2225 Justice St # D – Monroe, LA 71201 – (318) 387-4068
Farm Bureau Insurance – 2100 Forsythe Ave – Monroe, LA 71201 – (318) 323-1344
State Farm Insurance – 1312 N 18th St – Monroe, LA 71201 – (318) 323-2900

For a complete listing of captive agents in Monroe, visit this link.

Deciding on an auto insurance agent should depend on more than just a cheap price. Some important questions to ask are:

Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
Can they give you a list of client referrals?
Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?

Upon getting positive responses to any questions you have as well as a affordable price, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.

What coverages do I need?

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.

Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
Do I need motorclub coverage?
Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Much more information about auto insurance in Louisiana is available on the Louisiana Department of Insurance website found here. Louisiana consumers can read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, and find disaster information.

In the end, you save

In this article, we covered some good ideas how to get a better price on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from the smaller companies.

Cheap auto insurance can be purchased on the web and also from your neighborhood Monroe agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you shop your coverage around, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.