Things You Must Know Before Buying Battle Creek, MI Car Insurance Online

Nobody I know likes paying for car insurance, in particular when their premiums are through the roof. Lots of auto insurance companies contend for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the absolute lowest cost out there.

You should make it a habit to take a look at other company’s rates at least once a year because prices are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you think you had the best rates six months ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the fastest way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you may find discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied at quote time, but some may not be applied and must be asked about before being credited. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

• Own a Home – Owning a house in Battle Creek can help you save on car insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
• Accident Forgiveness – A handful of insurance companies permit an accident without raising rates as long as you don’t have any claims prior to the accident.
• Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings up to 30%.
• Discount for Good Grades – Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
• Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially compared to drivers who are more careless.
• Driver Safety – Completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think you could get a free car insurance policy, companies don’t profit that way. But all discounts will bring down your premiums.

To choose insurers offering car insurance discounts in Michigan, click here to view.

But I prefer to buy car insurance from an agent

Some consumers would rather talk to a local agent and that is just fine! Insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates but also keep your business local. Buying from local insurance agencies is important particularly in Battle Creek.

Once you complete this short form, the coverage information gets sent to insurance agents in Battle Creek who will return price quotes for your business. You never need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How cool is that?!

Insurance agent types

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Battle Creek are either captive or independent (non-captive). Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s good to learn the differences since it can impact the selection process.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are not employed by any 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, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies. When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.

Shown below is a list of independent agents in Battle Creek willing to provide price quotes.

Dotson Insurance – 34 Ardmoor Dr – Battle Creek, MI 49017 – (269) 965-7208
Andrew Johnson Agency – 203 Highland Ave – Battle Creek, MI 49015 – (269) 968-3066
Jeff Cope Agency – 812 Capital Ave SW – Battle Creek, MI 49015 – (269) 968-9800
Granger Insurance – 928 Columbia Ave W # B – Battle Creek, MI 49015 – (269) 965-2243
Felton Lewis Agency – 71 20th St S – Battle Creek, MI 49015 – (269) 964-9796

Captive Agents

Captive agents have only one company to place business with like American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They are unable to compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.

Below is a list of captive agents in Battle Creek that are able to give comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 1700 Michigan Ave W – Battle Creek, MI 49017 – (269) 963-2055
Farmers Insurance Group – 15151 C Dr N – Battle Creek, MI 49015 – (269) 963-4214
Farm Bureau Inc Group – 1791 Columbia Ave W – Battle Creek, MI 49015 – (269) 963-4214
State Farm Insurance – 19915 Capital Ave NE # 204 – Battle Creek, MI 49017 – (269) 962-5117

To view a full list of car insurance agents in Battle Creek, please click here.

Choosing an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:

• How long has their agency been open in Battle Creek?
• Who are their largest clients?
• What insurance companies do they work with?
• Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Michigan?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• How are they compensated?
• Can they give you a list of client referrals?

Upon getting answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask as well as a affordable price, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that can properly service your car insurance policy.

Additional car insurance information is available on the website for the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation located here. Visitors are able to find out which companies have the most complaints, view a list of available companies, and find out industry alerts.

More quotes mean more savings

The cheapest car insurance can be found from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Battle Creek agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some car insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s a bad idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are many occasions where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

We just covered some good ideas how to lower your car insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like State Farm and Allstate.