6 Must-Know Tips When Buying Fargo, ND Car Insurance

Have you had enough of robbing Peter to pay Paul to pay your car insurance bill each month? You are in the same boat as many other North Dakota drivers.

Because you have many options, it can be diffult for consumers to find the lowest price car insurance company.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Fargo is not rocket science. If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to save some money using these techniques. But North Dakota vehicle owners do need to learn how the larger insurance companies market on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Fargo Car Insurance Comparisons

The are a couple different ways of comparing price quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The easiest way to find the lowest rates involves getting comparison quotes online. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.

• One of the simplest ways to get quotes would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This method saves time by eliminating separate quotation requests to each individual car insurance company. One quote request will return quotes instantly.
• Another way to shop for car insurance online is to take the time to go to the website for each individual company and complete a new quote form. For example, we’ll assume you want to compare rates from Farmers, Safeco and Liberty Mutual. To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker.

  To view a list of companies in Fargo, click here.

Which method you use is up to you, but make darn sure you compare the exact same quote information with every price quote. If you have differing limits it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison in Fargo. Slightly different limits could mean much higher rates. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that obtaining a wide range of quotes provides better odds of finding the best price.

Save money by taking advantage of these discounts

Car insurance companies do not list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance.

• Braking Control Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
• Drive Less and Save – Low mileage vehicles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• Drive Safe and Save – Safe drivers can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accidents.
• Discount for New Cars – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Distant Student – Children who live away from home without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.
• Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
• Early Signing – Some companies give discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
• Life Insurance – Some companies give better rates if you take out life insurance from them.
• Club Memberships – Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for car insurance.
• Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.

To see a list of insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Fargo, click here.

When should I use an insurance agent?

When buying the right insurance coverage, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Each situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your situation will benefit from professional help.

• Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
• At what point should I drop full coverage?
• Is North Dakota a no-fault state?
• Should I buy only the required North Dakota minimum liability coverage?
• Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
• Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
• What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Additional reading for car insurance information

Even more information can be read at the North Dakota Insurance Department website. Consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, download brochures, read industry bulletins, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other informative sites include this resource for North Dakota car insurance prices and this page of insurance agents in Fargo.