5 Must-Know Tips When Buying Pocatello Auto Insurance

Are you confused by the wide range of auto insurance company choices in Pocatello? Many other drivers are as well. Drivers have so many companies to choose from that it can be a ton of work to find lower rates.

Finding the best rates in Pocatello is easy if you know what you’re doing. Essentially everyone who is required by state law to have auto insurance should be able to find better rates. But Idaho vehicle owners need to learn the way companies price insurance differently and use this information to your advantage.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t necessarily list all available discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of both the well known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.

• Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Safety Course Discount – Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
• New Vehicle Savings – Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Claim Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents can earn big discounts when compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Good Students Pay Less – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.

It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.

You are unique and your auto insurance should be too

When buying the best auto insurance coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different.

Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you may require specific advice.

• Should I buy additional glass protection?
• Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
• Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
• Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
• Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
• Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
• How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
• Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?

If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form.

Aren’t my neighborhood agents an option?

A small number of people would prefer to get advice from a local agent and that is a personal choice. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get better rates and still have an agent to talk to.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is transmitted to insurance agents in Pocatello who will give you bids for your coverage. You never need to drive around as quotes are delivered to your email. How cool is that?! You can find the lowest rates and work with a local agent.

Choosing an insurance company requires more thought than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

• Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
• Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
• Will your rates increase after a single accident?
• What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
• Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?

The type of insurance agent you choose is important

When looking for a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Pocatello are categorized either independent or captive.

Agency Captives

Captive agents can only place business with one company and examples are State Farm or Allstate. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are trained well on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers frequently buy insurance from these agents mainly due to the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.

Below are Pocatello captive insurance agents who can help you get rate quotes.

• Allstate Insurance – 4155 Yellowstone Ave # 1162 – Pocatello, ID 83202 – (208) 237-1498
• State Farm Insurance – 920 Deon Dr # G – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 232-0800
• Farmers Insurance Group – 153 Jefferson Ave – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 233-7191
• Idaho Farm Bureau Mutual Ins – 275 Tierra Vista Dr – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 232-7914
• American Family Insurance – 808 Yellowstone Ave – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 478-1095

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agencies are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to find a new agent. When searching for an agent, you should always contact at least one independent agent for the best price selection.Most can insure with lesser-known insurance companies which can save you money.

Listed below is a list of independent agents in Pocatello who can help you get rate quotes.

• Mutual Insurance Group – 1575 Baldy Ave – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 237-9696
• Insurance Designers – 2755 Pole Line Rd – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 233-4100
• Chad Whyte Agency – 1155 Yellowstone Ave # C – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 237-5000
• Allen Collins Agency – 1219 Yellowstone Ave # E – Pocatello, ID 83201 – (208) 237-9183

For a full directory of insurance agents in Pocatello, visit this site.

After receiving positive feedback to these questions and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.

Learn more about auto insurance in Idaho

More detailed Idaho auto insurance information can be found at the Idaho Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to discover disciplinary actions, learn about insurance regulations, find a variety of consumer forms, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

In the end, you save

As you shop your coverage around, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t have enough coverage. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Affordable auto insurance is definitely available on the web in addition to many Pocatello insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies do not provide online quoting and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Drivers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including high prices, unfair underwriting practices, policy cancellation and poor customer service. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company can be easier than you think.