Port Huron Michigan Auto Insurance Savings the Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About

Are you intimidated by the crazy number of auto insurance company choices in Port Huron? You have a lot of company. People have so many choices that it can quickly become a lot of work to locate the lowest price.

Learn How to Lower your Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in better auto insurance rates.

• Claim-free discounts can add up – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance companies in Michigan generally give lower rates to insureds who do not file claims often. Your insurance policy is intended for larger claims.
• More people means more accidents – Living in less populated areas has it’s advantages when buying auto insurance. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate. Urban drivers tend to have congested traffic and much longer commute distances. Longer commute distances translates into higher accident risk.
• High performance equals high price – The performance level of the vehicle you own makes a significant difference in your rates. Low performance passenger models receive the most favorable rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
• Better credit means lower rates – Credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit rating is lower than you’d like, you could pay less to insure your by repairing your credit. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with poor credit.

How to Get Cheap Auto Insurance in Port Huron, Michigan

Performing a rate comparison can be challenging if you don’t utilize the most efficient way. You could waste a few hours talking to insurance companies in Port Huron, or you could use the internet to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Many insurance companies participate in a marketplace where insurance shoppers only type in their quote data once, and each participating company then gives them pricing. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests to each company. To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here to start a free quote.

The single downside to pricing coverage this way is you don’t know exactly which carriers you want pricing from. If you would rather choose specific insurance companies to compare rates, we have a listing of low cost auto insurance companies in Michigan. Click to view list.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just compare the exact same coverages with each company. If you are comparing unequal deductibles or liability limits you can’t possibly decipher which rate is best in Port Huron. Just a small difference in insurance coverages can make a big difference in price. It’s important to know that having more price comparisons will enable you to find a better price.

Can you really save that much by switching?

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads in print and on television. They all seem to say the same thing about savings after switching to them. But how can every company say the same thing?

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a driver they prefer might be a mature driver, has no tickets, and has a high credit rating. A driver who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who don’t qualify for these standards must pay a higher premium which leads to business not being written. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why you should quote coverage with many companies. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

More discounts equal less premium

Car insurance companies do not advertise all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list both well-publicized as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

• Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Driver Safety – Successfully completing a defensive driving course could save 5% or more depending on where you live.
• Paperless Signup – A few companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application on their website.
• Early Switch Discount – Select companies give a discount for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
• Save with a New Car – Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
• Multiple Vehicles – Insuring multiple vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
• 55 and Retired – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
• Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give a break if you buy life insurance.

It’s important to understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you’re out of luck.

To see a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in Port Huron, follow this link.

Your insurance agent down the street

Some people would prefer to talk to a local agent and that is just fine! The best thing about comparing rates online is you can get better rates but also keep your business local.

By using this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is transmitted to participating agents in Port Huron who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to even leave your home as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. How’s that for easy! Get lower rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

Deciding on an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just a low price. These questions are important to ask:

• Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
• Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
• Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
• Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
• Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?

Compare rates from both independent and captive car insurance agents

When searching for an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Port Huron are either captive or independent (non-captive).

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies are contracted to one company such as State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. These agents are not able to provide prices from multiple companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agents receive extensive training on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Some consumers prefer to buy insurance from these agents mainly due to loyalty to the company and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

The following is a list of captive agents in Port Huron who may provide you with price quote information.

• Farm Bureau Insurance – 1620 Stone St – Port Huron, MI 48060 – (810) 984-5200
• Allstate Insurance – 1808 Pine Grove Ave – Port Huron, MI 48060 – (810) 982-2340
• State Farm Insurance – 4155 Lapeer Rd – Port Huron, MI 48060 – (810) 984-1538

Independent Agents

These agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to contact at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison. Many write coverage with different regional companies which may provide better rates.

Listed below are independent agents in Port Huron that can give you rate quotes.

• John Gilbert Agency – 2936 Pine Grove Ave – Port Huron, MI 48060 – (810) 984-8315
• Agency Premier Insurance – 1042 Griswold St – Port Huron, MI 48060 – (810) 984-2240
• Barger Insurance Inc – 2325 10th St – Port Huron, MI 48060 – (810) 989-9541
• Wittliff Insurance – 1421 Pine Grove Ave # 1 – Port Huron, MI 48060 – (810) 982-9502
• Kearns Real Estate Agency – 1101 Pine Grove Ave – Port Huron, MI 48060 – (810) 987-3330

For a full directory of licensed insurance agents in Port Huron, visit this link.

Upon getting acceptable answers to any questions you have and locked in a price quote, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that is a good match to properly insure your vehicles.

Even more information can be found at the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Michigan consumers can get help finding coverage, find out industry alerts, view agent and company licensing information, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Do the work, save more money

As you shop your coverage around, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice full coverage and discovered at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford.

Cheap auto insurance can be bought from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Port Huron, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies don’t offer online quoting and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

Consumers change insurance companies for many reasons like denial of a claim, unfair underwriting practices, high rates after DUI convictions and not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a great new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.