Buy Bellevue Nebraska Car Insurance Like a Scrooge

Finding the best price on Bellevue car insurance can be a challenge if you’re new to quoting online. Don’t let that stop you because comparing prices is actually very simple.

Buy Cheaper Car Insurance with These Tips

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating car insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting prices.

• More claims means more premium – If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance companies in Nebraska give cheaper rates to policyholders who are claim-free. Your insurance policy is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
• More people means more accidents – Choosing to live in less populated areas has it’s advantages when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Lower population means fewer accidents.
• Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance – Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
• Discounts for multiple policies – Some companies will give a discount to policyholders who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s still a good idea to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
• Your job and insurance rates – Jobs such as lawyers, architects and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates attributed to job stress and lots of time spent at work. Other occupations such as farmers, historians and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.

Fast and Easy Bellevue Car Insurance Quotes

To find the best car insurance prices, there are several ways of comparing rate quotes from local in Bellevue, Nebraskacar insurance companies. The fastest way to compare insurance prices is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

• The single most time-saving way to get quotes would be an industry-wide quote request form click to view form in new window. This easy form eliminates the need for separate quotes for each company. Taking the time to complete one form will get you price quotes from multiple companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
• A less efficient way to get comparison quotes is going to each individual company website and request a quote. For instance, let’s say you want to compare Farmers, State Farm and Allstate. You would have to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a handy list of car insurance company links in Bellevue, click here.
• The least recommended way of comparing rate quotes is to drive around to insurance agents’ offices. The internet can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you have a need for the professional advice that only a license agent can provide. You can, however, price shop online but still have the advice of a local agent and you’ll learn how to do that later.

Whichever way you use, make sure you use identical coverage limits and deductibles for each price quote. If you have mixed coverages it will be impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Bellevue. Slightly different coverage limits may result in a large different in cost. And when price shopping your coverage, obtaining a wide range of quotes will improve the odds of getting better pricing.

Take discounts and save

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there are discounts available to cut the cost considerably. Most are applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be manually applied before you will receive the discount.

• Passive Restraints – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
• Paperless Signup – Some insurance companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application digitally online.
• Memberships – Being a member of a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
• Own a Home – Simply owning a home may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
• Resident Student – Children living away from home attending college and don’t have a car may be able to be covered for less.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce the cost of coverage.

What about using a local agent?

A small number of people prefer to get advice from a local agent and that is OK! The best thing about comparing rates online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates but also keep your business local. Buying from local agencies is definitely important in Bellevue.

Once you complete this quick form, the quote information is transmitted to participating agents in Bellevue who will compete for your business. There is no need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy! Get lower rates AND an agent nearby.

Two different types of car insurance agents

When researching a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies from which to choose. Bellevue agents are categorized either captive or independent.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison.Many can place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies who may have lower rates.

Below is a short list of independent agents in Bellevue willing to provide comparison quotes.

• Farm Bureau Insurance – 11824 S 25th St – Bellevue, NE 68123 – (402) 292-7999
• Woodmen Of The World Insurance – 101 W Mission Ave # B – Bellevue, NE 68005 – (402) 292-2606
• Brian Landretti Agency – 612 W Mission Ave # E – Bellevue, NE 68005 – (402) 291-3065

Captive Agents

Captive agents write business for a single company and some examples include State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. They are trained well on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers often choose to use a captive agent primarily because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Listed below is a list of captive insurance agents in Bellevue willing to provide comparison quotes.

• Shelter Insurance – 2312 Cornhusker Rd – Bellevue, NE 68123 – (402) 292-3500
• Farmers Insurance Group – 207 Galvin Rd N – Bellevue, NE 68005 – (402) 991-4820
• Farm Bureau Insurance – 11824 S 25th St – Bellevue, NE 68123 – (402) 292-7999
• State Farm Insurance – 11533 S 36th St – Bellevue, NE 68123 – (402) 682-9334
• American Family Insurance – 205 Galvin Rd N # 1 – Bellevue, NE 68005 – (402) 291-4060
• Allstate Insurance Co – 2266 Franklin St – Bellevue, NE 68005 – (402) 291-9172

For a complete listing of captive agencies in Bellevue, please view this page.

Deciding on a car insurance agent requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
• Is working in the agency their full-time job?
• What insurance companies do they work with?
• How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
• Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
• What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?

After getting reasonable responses to any questions you have and an acceptable price quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that can provide car insurance coverage.

What is the best insurance coverage?

When it comes to buying coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.

• Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
• Are rental cars covered under my policy?
• Who is covered by my policy?
• Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
• Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
• Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
• Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
• Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
• When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
• Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Additional information is available on the Nebraska Department of Insurance website located here. Consumers can read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, download brochures, and view agent and company licensing information.

In conclusion

In this article, we covered a lot of information how to shop for car insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with a lesser-known regional company.

Cheap car insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Bellevue agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

People switch companies for any number of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, policy non-renewal and even lack of trust in their agent. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a great new company can be less work than you think.