How to Know You’re Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Payette, ID

Shopping for the lowest cost Payette auto insurance over the internet may be somewhat difficult for consumers new to comparison shopping online. With dozens of insurers to choose from, how can you even start to compare every company to locate the cheapest rates?

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using this information. Shopping for affordable auto insurance in Payette is simple if you know the tricks. But Idaho consumers need to learn how insurance companies price online insurance.

Discounts can save BIG

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you may find discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of quoting, but less common discounts must be inquired about before you will receive the discount.

• Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Save over 55 – Mature drivers may qualify for reduced rates.
• Accident Forgiveness – A handful of insurance companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven’t had any claims for a set time period.
• Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• No Claims – Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts when compared to drivers who are more careless.
• New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
• Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
• Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner can save you money because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Idaho, follow this link.

How to Compare Payette Auto Insurance Rates

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from local in Payette, IDauto insurance companies. The best method to find the lowest rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

• The recommended way to get quotes for comparison is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This type of form eliminates the need for separate quotation requests for every auto insurance company. One simple form gets you coverage quotes from all major companies. This is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time.
• A harder way to get comparison quotes consists of visiting each company’s website to complete a price quote. For example, we’ll assume you want to compare Liberty Mutual, GEICO and Progressive. You would have to go to every website and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to insurance companies in Payette, click here.
• The hardest way of getting rate comparisons is driving to and from local insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you have a need for the trained guidance only provided by licensed agents. Drivers can get prices online and get advice from an agent in your area. We’ll cover that shortly.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but make sure you use identical coverages for every quote you compare. If you are comparing different values for each quote it’s not possible to determine which rate is truly the best in Payette. Slightly different insurance coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing a large number of companies will enable you to find lower pricing.

What determines how much you pay?

It’s important that you understand the factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

• Low deductibles can be expensive – Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, collision with an animal, and windstorm damage. The deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount you have to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
• Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs – If you file claims often, you can expect higher rates. Car insurance companies in Idaho generally give discounts to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Insurance coverage is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
• Please use or commuting – Driving more miles in a year the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Cars not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage.
• Don’t skimp on liability – Liability coverage provides coverage in the event that a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
• Your age impacts your rates – Mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel. Teen drivers have a tendency to be less responsible in a vehicle and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
• High crash test scores lower rates – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles have better occupant injury protection and fewer injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you.
• How’s your driving record? – Careful drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Even a single speeding ticket can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with serious tickets such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining if you might need professional guidance.

• When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
• How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
• Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
• Do I need higher deductibles?
• Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
• Do I qualify for additional discounts?
• Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
• Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form.

Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent

Some people just want to talk to a local agent. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you may find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local insurance agencies is important especially in Payette.

To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, your insurance data is submitted to participating agents in Payette who will compete for your coverage. There is no reason to leave your house since price quotes are sent directly to your email. Now that’s easy! It’s the lowest rates and work with a local agent.

Different types of auto insurance agents in Payette

When looking for a local agent, you must know there are a couple different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are categorized either captive or independent.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies. When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.Many can place coverage with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.

The following is a list of independent agencies in Payette that are able to give price quotes.

• Three Rivers Agency – 26 S Main St – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-9311
• Farm Bureau Insurance – 1505 3rd Ave N – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-4414
• Fitch Insurance Agencies – 815 Center Ave – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-9565
• Boerner Agency – 934 1st Ave S – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-2368
• All Valley Agency Inc – 921 Center Ave – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-3435

Captive Agents

These agents can only write with one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They generally cannot provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. Captives are well schooled in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Consumers sometimes choose to use a captive agent primarily because of high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.

Shown below are captive insurance agencies in Payette that can give you comparison quotes.

• Farm Bureau Insurance – 1505 3rd Ave N – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-4414

For a complete listing of Payette captive insurance agents, go to this page.

Deciding on an insurance agent should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

• Will your rates increase after a single accident?
• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
• Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Idaho?

Upon receiving satisfactory answers to any questions you have and a good coverage price, it’s possible that you found an insurance agency that is a good match to service your policy.

Final considerations

When trying to cut insurance costs, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped full coverage only to regret that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

You just read a lot of tips how to get a better price on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the least-expected company.

Drivers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as lack of trust in their agent, being labeled a high risk driver, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and even questionable increases in premium. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

Online resources for education

More information can be found on the Idaho Department of Insurance website located here. Consumers can read consumer alerts, find out industry alerts, view agent and company licensing information, and learn about insurance regulations.

Other informative sites include BankRate.com’s Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this link where you can get more info about Payette coverage.