10 Tips to Save on Car Insurance in Kansas City, MO

Cutting costs on Kansas City car insurance can be challenging for people who are new to comparison shopping online. There are so many options available that it can turn into a challenge to locate the lowest price in Kansas City.

You should take the time to do rate comparisons at least once a year because prices fluctuate regularly. Even if you got the best deal six months ago there may be better deals available now. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because we’re going to demonstrate one of the quickest ways to find great coverage at a great price.

Save big with these ten discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you can get discounts that many people don’t even know exist. A few discounts will automatically apply at quote time, but a few must be asked about before being credited. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than their less cautious counterparts.
• Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
• Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
• Accident Waiver – A few companies will forgive one accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving fewer miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Larger companies have a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
• Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
• Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
• Employee of Federal Government – Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.

It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck. But all discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

For a list of providers offering car insurance discounts in Kansas City, follow this link.

But I don’t know anything about car insurance

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage, there is no cookie cutter policy. Every insured’s situation is different.

For instance, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

• What are the best liability limits?
• Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
• Does my vehicle qualify for pleasure use?
• Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
• What if I total my vehicle and owe more than it’s worth?
• Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Buying car insurance from a local agent

Some people just want to buy from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Agents can help determine the best coverages and help you file claims. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you may find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. Buying from local agencies is important particularly in Kansas City.

Upon completion of this quick form, your coverage information is instantly submitted to companies in Kansas City who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. Now that’s easy!

If you wish to select a specific agent in Kansas City, visit this site.

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

• How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
• Does the agency support the community they serve?
• Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
• Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
• How are they compensated?
• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?

After receiving positive feedback for all questions you ask as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found an insurance company that meets your needs to service your policy.

Auto insurance 101

Learning about specific coverages of your policy can help you determine appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Coverage for collisions

This pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision can pay for things like colliding with a tree, damaging your car on a curb, scraping a guard rail, backing into a parked car and crashing into a building. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Comprehensive auto coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as rock chips in glass, vandalism, damage from a tornado or hurricane and damage from flooding. The highest amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This gives you protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many Missouri drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/10 in Missouri), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Frequently these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses for things like prosthetic devices, funeral costs and X-ray expenses. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Auto liability insurance

Liability coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability can pay for things such as structural damage, legal defense fees and funeral expenses. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. Missouri state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/10,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

Additional car insurance information can be read on the Missouri Department of Insurance website through this link. Consumers can discover disciplinary actions, view agent and company licensing information, and read industry bulletins.

More comparisons equals lower rates

As you shop your coverage around, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to discover later that it was a big mistake. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate.

Cheap car insurance is available both online and with local Kansas City insurance agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We just showed you many tips how you can lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the best prices are with a lesser-known regional company.