Things You Must Know Before Purchasing Colorado Springs Auto Insurance Online

Feel like you’re a prisoner to an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out. Insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO and Farmers Insurance continually hit you with ad campaigns and it can be hard to see through the cute green geckos and mayhem and find the best price available.

It’s a great practice to get comparison quotes occasionally because rates fluctuate regularly. If you had the best deal two years ago you may be paying too much now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re about to learn one of the best ways to find great coverage at a great price.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or are looking for a new policy, you can use these tips to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Buying car insurance in Colorado Springs is easy if you know what you’re doing. Colorado drivers just need to learn the most efficient way to buy auto insurance online.

How to Get Colorado Springs Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

All the larger auto insurance companies allow you to get pricing online. This process is quite easy as you simply enter your personal and coverage information as detailed in the form. Once you submit the form, the company’s rating system will obtain reports for credit and driving violations and returns pricing information. This helps simplify price comparisons, but the time required to go to multiple sites and type in the same information is monotonous and tiresome. But it is imperative to have as many quotes as possible if you are searching for the best price on auto insurance.

A less time-consuming method to get multiple rate quotes is to use a quote form that gets prices from a bunch of companies at once. It’s a real time-saver, requires less work, and makes rate comparisons much more enjoyable and efficient. As soon as the form is sent, it gets priced and you can select any one of the quote results.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you can click and sign and purchase the new policy. This process takes less than 15 minutes and could lower your rates considerably.

To find out what other companies charge, click here and fill out the form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you duplicate the coverage information as shown on your current policy. Using the same limits helps guarantee you are getting a price comparison based on similar coverages.

Advertising myths

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings by Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you change to their company.

How can each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

Different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who are not a match for this ideal profile will have to pay a more expensive rate and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. This is how companies can state the savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers must get as many comparisons as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Save Money with These Tips

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

The following are some of the factors that factor into rates.

• Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates – Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping car theft.
• Lower miles equals lower premium – The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars that are left in the garage receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Verify your auto insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.
• Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. Safer cars protect occupants better and fewer injuries translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.
• Being married can save on auto insurance – Being married can get you a discount on your policy. Having a significant other means you’re more responsible and it’s statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
• High credit ratings translate to low rates – Credit rating is a huge factor in your rate calculation. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than those with lower credit scores. If your credit score can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating.
• Poor driving leads to higher costs – Your driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Even a single citation may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with clean records get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to continue driving.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for in order for you to get them. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Organization Discounts – Belonging to a qualifying organization could trigger savings when buying auto insurance.
• E-sign – Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application over the internet.
• Good Student – A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
• Early Signing – Some companies give discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
• Save with a New Car – Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
• Federal Government Employee – Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
• Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can pay as much as 50% less than their less cautious counterparts.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most cut individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any amount of discount will bring down your overall premium however.

To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Colorado, click this link.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to choosing coverage, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions may help you determine whether you would benefit from professional advice.

• Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Colorado?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
• What can I do if my company denied a claim?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Price shop online but buy from a local Colorado Springs agent

Some consumers would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! Educated insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the best rates but also keep your business local. Supporting local insurance agencies is especially important in Colorado Springs.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your coverage information is transmitted to participating agents in Colorado Springs who will return price quotes for your business. You never need to visit any agencies because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy!

The difference between Colorado Springs insurance agents

When looking for a reliable agent, there are a couple of different types of agents to choose from. Agents are either independent or captive. Either one can insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the differences since it can impact the selection process.

Independent Agents

These agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent. When searching for an agent, you should always get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection.

Below is a list of independent agencies in Colorado Springs that are able to give competitive price quotes.

Adam K Peters Agency – 1295 Kelly Johnson Blvd # 225 – Colorado Springs, CO 80920 – (719) 219-3343
A Auto Agency – 3939 E San Miguel St – Colorado Springs, CO 80909 – (719) 591-2552
Co West Insurance-Southern Co – 2110 Vickers Dr – Colorado Springs, CO 80918 – (719) 593-0647
Lantz Samson Agency – 1337 Canoe Creek Dr – Colorado Springs, CO 80906 – (719) 527-0664
Mangum Insurance – 4291 Austin Bluffs Pkwy – Colorado Springs, CO 80918 – (719) 630-2232

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies are contracted to one company and some examples include State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They usually cannot give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents.

The following is a list of captive agencies in Colorado Springs who can help you get comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 1426 N Hancock Ave # 1n – Colorado Springs, CO 80903 – (719) 634-2106
Farmers Insurance Group – 2914 N Powers Blvd – Colorado Springs, CO 80922 – (719) 591-4453
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 730 Village Center Dr – Colorado Springs, CO 80919 – (719) 531-9777
American Family Insurance – 3272 Research Pkwy # 103 – Colorado Springs, CO 80920 – (719) 282-6767
Shelter Insurance – 1257 Lake Plaza Dr # 203 – Colorado Springs, CO 80906 – (719) 884-2106
State Farm Insurance – 5713 Constitution Ave – Colorado Springs, CO 80915 – (719) 574-4700

To view a full list of captive insurance agents in Colorado Springs, visit this link.

Picking an insurance agent should depend on more than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:

• What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
• Can they give you a list of client referrals?
• How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
• How long has their agency been in business in Colorado Springs?
• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Colorado?
• If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?

Once you have satisfactory answers to these questions and an affordable coverage quote, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to properly insure your vehicles.

Summing up your auto insurance search

We just presented many ways to save on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like State Farm or Progressive.

Low-cost auto insurance is definitely available from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Colorado Springs, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Additional consumer information websites

More information can be read on the website for the Colorado DORA Division of Insurance located here. Consumers can get help finding coverage, find disaster information, find a variety of consumer forms, and read industry bulletins.

Other useful links include this page for auto insurance prices in Colorado and this page for help finding agents in Colorado Springs, CO.