Things You Must Know Before Buying Kenai Alaska Auto Insurance Online

I can’t think of anyone who looks forward to buying auto insurance, especially knowing the cost is way too high.

Many auto insurance companies compete to insure your vehicles, and it can be difficult to compare rates to get the best rate

Consumers need to compare prices quite often due to the fact that insurance rates change frequently. Just because you found the best deal on your last policy other companies may now be cheaper. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the only way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

Low Cost Kenai Auto Insurance

Most companies quote pricing directly from their websites. Getting online rates is pretty easy as you just type in the coverages you want as requested by the quote form. After the form is submitted, their rating system will order your credit score and driving record and returns pricing information determined by many factors. Online price quotes makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the time required to go to several different sites and complete many quote forms can be a bit repetitive. But it is imperative to have as many quotes as possible in order to find the lowest possible prices on auto insurance.

A quicker way to lower your auto insurance bill is to use a quote form that analyzes rates from multiple companies. The form is fast, eliminates form submissions, and makes online quotes a lot less work. Immediately after submitting the form, it gets priced and you are able to buy your choice of the quotes returned. If the quotes result in lower rates, it’s easy to complete the application and purchase coverage. The entire process can be completed in a matter of minutes and may save quite a bit of money.

In order to get comparison pricing now, click here to open in new window and fill out the form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you input exactly as they are listed on your policy. This ensures you are getting a rate comparison for exact coverage.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always advertise all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings.

  • Early Switch Discount – Select companies give a discount for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
  • Life Insurance Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles with factory air bags can get savings of up to 25% or more.
  • Senior Discount – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for a discount up to 10%.
  • Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
  • Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To see a list of insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Kenai, click here to view.

Comparing rates from local agents

A small number of people just want to get advice from a local agent and that is a personal choice. The best thing about getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent.

To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, your insurance coverage information is sent to participating agents in Kenai who will give you bids to get your business. You never need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. Now that’s easy! You can find better rates and work with a local agent.

Selecting an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just the price. These are valid questions to ask:

  • Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Alaska?
  • Do they assist clients in filing claims?
  • Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
  • Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
  • Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
  • Can they give you a list of client referrals?
  • Will your rates increase after a single accident?
  • If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?

Insurance agencies in Kenai come in two varieties

When looking for a reliable agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Insurance agencies in Kenai can either be captive or independent.

Captive Agents

Captive agencies write business for a single company and some examples include State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so they have to upsell other benefits. Captives are very knowledgeable in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agencies do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, you should always get quotes from at least one independent agent for the best price selection.

The following are independent agencies in Kenai that can give you price quote information.

A Kenai Alaska Insurance – 5791 Kenai Spur Hwy – Kenai, AK 99611 – (907) 283-4191
Brown Agency – 110 S Willow St # 106 – Kenai, AK 99611 – (907) 283-7834
Kristie Leaf Insurance – 10735 Kenai Spur Hwy # 1 – Kenai, AK 99611 – (907) 283-7116

To view a complete directory of auto insurance agents in Kenai, simply jump to this page.

Once you have received positive responses to all your questions as well as a affordable price, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that is a good match to insure your vehicles.

It’s not one size fits all

When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
  • Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
  • Do I need higher deductibles?
  • If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
  • Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
  • Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Alaska?
  • Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Decisions you make can impact your rates

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to big savings.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate prices.

  • Poor credit can mean higher rates – A driver’s credit history is a important factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. Therefore, if your credit rating is not that good, you could save money insuring your by repairing your credit. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with lower credit scores.
  • Performance influences rates – The make and model of the vehicle you drive makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. The lowest rates tend to be for small economy passenger cars, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
  • Do you have a high stress job? – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations such as real estate brokers, architects and dentists tend to have the highest average rates due to stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. Other occupations such as farmers, historians and homemakers receive lower rates.
  • Multiple policies with one company can save – Many companies will give a discount to insureds who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal. You may still find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
  • What are your deductibles? – Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, vandalism, or theft. The deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend in the event of a claim. The more you’re willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
  • More miles equals more premium – Driving more miles in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. Most companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos left parked in the garage get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your auto insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage.

Beware of misleading auto insurance ads

Allstate and Progressive regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the companies make an identical promise that you can save if you move to them. How can each company say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be between 25 and 40, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential customers who don’t qualify for this ideal profile will be quoted a more expensive rate which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. This is how companies can claim big savings. This emphasizes why you should get as many comparisons as possible. It’s not possible to predict which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

In the end, you save

While you’re price shopping online, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an insured dropped collision coverage only to regret that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Low-cost auto insurance can be bought from both online companies in addition to many Kenai insurance agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Alaska insurance information

More detailed Alaska auto insurance information can be found at the Alaska Division of Insurance website. Alaska consumers can view agent and company licensing information, learn about insurance regulations, find out which companies have the most complaints, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Also read more on this site for Alaska auto insurance information and this page where you can research Kenai insurance agents.