Learn How to Lower Your Premiums for Wheat Ridge Auto Insurance

Buying the lowest cost Wheat Ridge auto insurance online can seem to be challenging for consumers new to comparison shopping online. Since there are so many insurance companies available, how can consumers possibly compare every company to locate the lowest price available?

It is always a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates every six months because insurance rates change frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price six months ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance online but with this article, you’re going to get some of the best ways to find affordable auto insurance.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Wheat Ridge is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these tips. But Colorado drivers need to learn the methods companies use to sell online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Why your price might be higher

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine prices.

Liability coverage protects you – Your policy’s liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if ever you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
Better credit scores mean better rates – A driver’s credit history is a important factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit rating is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with lower credit scores.
Multi-policy discounts can save money – Some companies give discounts to customers who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, you may still want to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Pleasure use saves money – Driving more miles every year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Don’t buy coverages you don’t need – There are quite a few add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying auto insurance. Coverages for roadside assistance, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
Males pay more for insurance – Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, don’t assume that men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women are in accidents at a similar rate, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also statistically get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving.

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts very clearly, so here is a list both well-publicized and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.

Federal Government Employee – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents pay less compared to drivers who are more careless.
Good Student – Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
Student in College – Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way.

Don’t I need to talk to an agent?

A small number of people prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you may find better rates but still work with a licensed agent.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will battle to get your business. There is no need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered to your email. How cool is that?! You can find better rates AND a local agent.

Selecting an insurer shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask: Wheat Ridge insurance prices

If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Does the agency support the community they serve?
Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
How are they compensated?
Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?

Is a captive or independent insurance agent right for you?

When looking for local Wheat Ridge agents, there are a couple of types of insurance agents to choose from. Agents can either be captive or independent (non-captive).

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies are contracted to one company and some examples include State Farm or Allstate. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage. Consumers often buy insurance from these agents primarily because of the brand legacy and solid financial strength.

The following is a short list of captive agents in Wheat Ridge who can help you get price quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 4990 Kipling St # 4b – Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 – (303) 425-0750
Farmers Insurance Group – 7230 W 38th Ave – Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 – (303) 456-6866
Allstate Insurance – 4251 Kipling St # 300 – Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 – (303) 420-5642

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you include multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.Many can place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies who may have lower rates.

The following are Wheat Ridge independent agencies that are able to give comparison quotes.

Bob Leid Agency – 7615 W 38th Ave # B109 – Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 – (303) 422-2018
SCA Insurance – 4800 Wadsworth Blvd – Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 – (303) 456-4487
Truckers Equity Agency Inc – 10200 W 44th Ave # 134 – Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 – (303) 430-5725
Mountain Insurance Brokers – 3705 Kipling St # 106 – Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 – (303) 420-4774

For a complete listing of Wheat Ridge insurance agents, simply jump to this page.

After getting reasonable responses and an affordable coverage quote, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that can adequately provide auto insurance.

Slick advertising tricks that work

Auto insurance providers like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all make the same claim that you can save if you move to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be a mature driver, has no tickets, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Drivers who are not a match for the requirements will be quoted higher premiums which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company’s rates. It is impossible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more about Colorado auto insurance

Even more information is located at the Colorado DORA Division of Insurance website. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about a company, and read consumer alerts.

Other useful links include Wikipedia and this resource to find Wheat Ridge, CO insurance agents.

Final thoughts

When trying to cut insurance costs, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while still protecting your assets.

We’ve covered a lot of techniques to save on auto insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the best price on auto insurance is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

Cost effective auto insurance is attainable online and also from your neighborhood Wheat Ridge agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.