Car Insurance in Reno, NV – 6 Discounts Consumers are Unaware of

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are lots of people in the same boat. Many auto insurance companies vie for your business, so it’s not easy to compare every insurance company and get the definite lowest rate

You probably qualify for some discounts

Car insurance companies do not advertise every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both the well known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Employee of Federal Government – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
  • Safe Driver Discount – Insureds without accidents can pay as much as 50% less than less cautious drivers.
  • Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for better car insurance rates.
  • Defensive Driver – Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more depending on where you live.
  • Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
  • No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts when compared to drivers who are more careless.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Even though it may seem like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

For a list of companies with discount car insurance rates in Nevada, click here.

Neighborhood agents for car insurance

Certain consumers would prefer to buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. Good agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent.

For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is submitted to insurance agents in Reno who will return price quotes for your business. You don’t have to leave your computer due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier!

Selecting a company needs to be determined by more than just a low price. These are valid questions to ask:

  • Which company do they place the most coverage with?
  • Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
  • If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
  • Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
  • Is assistance available after office hours?
  • How often do they review policy coverages?
  • Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
  • Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?

Below is a list of insurance companies in Reno willing to provide price quote information.

LA Tourrette Agency – 994 Forest St, Reno, NV 89509 – (775) 786-1515
Gordon W Harris Insurance – 1175 W Moana Ln # 6, Reno, NV 89509 – (775) 323-4567
Allstate Insurance – 575 Forest St # 208, Reno, NV 89509 – (775) 786-2288
State Farm Insurance – 1296 E Plumb Ln # F, Reno, NV 89502 – (775) 827-2255
Farmers Insurance Group – 708 N Center St # 105, Reno, NV 89501 – (775) 329-6656
American National Insurance Co – 1226 Westfield Ave, Reno, NV 89509 – (775) 827-0883
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 5081 S Mccarran Blvd, Reno, NV 89502 – (775) 827-1000

Upon receiving reasonable responses and an affordable coverage quote, most likely you have located a company that will insure your vehicles.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Consumers can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings by 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you switch to their company.

But how can every company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured could be between the ages of 40 and 55, a clean driving record, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who fall outside the “perfect” profile will be quoted a more expensive rate which leads to business not being written. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That is how companies can advertise the savings. This emphasizes why it’s extremely important to get as many comparisons as possible. You cannot predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px;" src="https://www.findnewcarinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-22.jpg" alt="Nevada auto insurance“/>

Do I need special coverages?

When choosing coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
  • Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
  • Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Nevada?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Does my vehicle need full coverage?
  • Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?

If you’re not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Car insurance coverage options

Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are typical coverage types available from car insurance companies.

Liability coverages

This can cover damage that occurs to a person or their property that is your fault. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits of 25/50/25 which means a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability can pay for things like pain and suffering, emergency aid, structural damage and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but buy as large an amount as possible. Nevada requires drivers to carry at least 15,000/30,000/10,000 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.

Collision protection

This pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision can pay for things like crashing into a building, sustaining damage from a pot hole and crashing into a ditch. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive coverages

This will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like vandalism, damage from flooding, fire damage and hitting a bird. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits (15/30/10), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.

Coverage for medical payments

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for short-term medical expenses for nursing services, dental work, X-ray expenses, chiropractic care and ambulance fees. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Find out more about car insurance

Additional detailed information is located at the Nevada Division of Insurance website. Nevada consumers can get help finding coverage, read state legal mandates and laws, and discover disciplinary actions.

Additional helpful sites include Wikipedia and this link where you can get more info about Reno car insurance.

Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal

We just covered some good ideas how to get a better price on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.

When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many situations where someone dropped liability coverage limits and learned later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.