5 Money Saving Ideas Guaranteed to Save Money on Car Insurance Costs in Stillwater Oklahoma

Saving money on Stillwater car insurance can seem to be difficult for consumers not familiar with comparison shopping online. Drivers have so many options available that it can quickly become a big hassle to locate the lowest price in Stillwater.

If you are insured now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. The purpose of this post is to help you learn how car insurance quotes work. Oklahoma drivers just need to understand the most effective way to shop online.

Don’t miss out on these 5 money-saving discounts

Auto insurance companies do not advertise all available discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the best known as well as the least known car insurance savings. If you’re not getting every credit available, you are throwing money away.

Defensive Driver – Successfully completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
Theft Prevention System – Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Senior Discount – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for better car insurance rates.
Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates you could get a free car insurance policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.

To choose insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Oklahoma, click this link.

Local Stillwater agents and car insurance

Some people prefer to sit down with an agent. Good agents can help determine the best coverages and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is that you can obtain better rates but also keep your business local.

After filling out this quick form, the quote information is transmitted to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your coverage. There is no reason to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. How cool is that?!

Choosing an insurer needs to be determined by more than just the bottom line cost. Some important questions to ask are:

Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Oklahoma?
Can they give you a list of client referrals?
How long has their agency been in business in Stillwater?
Is working in the agency their full-time job?
Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?

Compare rates from both independent and captive insurance agencies

When finding a reliable agent, there are two types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Stillwater are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive. While both can do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning the differences since it may influence the selection process.

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents are contracted to one company like State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They receive extensive training on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Some consumers prefer to purchase coverage from captives mainly due to the brand legacy and solid financial strength.

Below are captive insurance agents in Stillwater willing to provide price quotes.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau – 4721 W 6th Ave – Stillwater, OK 74074 – (405) 385-0010
Farmers Insurance Group – 1009 N Boomer Rd – Stillwater, OK 74075 – (405) 377-8885
State Farm Insurance – 301 S Duck St # 2 – Stillwater, OK 74074 – (405) 372-4242
Shelter Insurance – 408 S Main St # 1 – Stillwater, OK 74074 – (405) 743-4481
Allstate Insurance – 913 S Main St # 1 – Stillwater, OK 74074 – (405) 372-9100

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies. When shopping rates, it’s recommended you include multiple independent agents to get the best comparison. They often place coverage with different regional companies which can save you money.

Listed below are independent insurance agents in Stillwater willing to provide rate quotes.

Houck Agency – 801 S Main St # 2 – Stillwater, OK 74074 – (405) 372-5343
Pat Razook Insurance – 112 W Hall Of Fame Ave – Stillwater, OK 74075 – (405) 377-6681
HMK Insurance – 2324 W 7th Pl # 7 – Stillwater, OK 74074 – (405) 624-7583
All-American Agency-Stillwater – 117 W Mcelroy Rd # A – Stillwater, OK 74075 – (405) 377-5900
Bradshaw Agency Inc – 324 S Husband St – Stillwater, OK 74074 – (405) 372-8800

For a complete listing of insurance agents in Stillwater, visit this site.

After receiving satisfactory answers to any questions you have and locked in a price quote, you’ve probably found an insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy. save money image

How can GEICO, State Farm and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings from the likes of GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. All the ads make the same claim of big savings if you change your coverage to them.

How does each company make the same claim?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer could be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who matches those parameters will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.

Consumers who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will be quoted more money which leads to the customer not buying. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently claim big savings. This emphasizes why it’s extremely important to get a wide range of price quotes. You cannot predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

What coverages do I need?

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Every insured’s situation is different.

These are some specific questions may help highlight if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent’s advice.

Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
Should I buy only the required Oklahoma minimum liability coverage?
Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Oklahoma?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Coverages available on your policy

Having a good grasp of car insurance helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Coverage for liability

This can cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property in an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 25/50/25 which stand for 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 claims such as funeral expenses, medical services, repair costs for stationary objects and emergency aid. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Oklahoma state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

Coverage for collisions

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as colliding with another moving vehicle, rolling your car, hitting a mailbox, crashing into a ditch and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things like hail damage, falling objects and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

UM/UIM Coverage

This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your vehicle.

Since many Oklahoma drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (25/50/25 in Oklahoma), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Medical costs insurance

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for things like doctor visits, rehabilitation expenses, surgery and ambulance fees. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Learn more today

More detailed Oklahoma car insurance information is available at the Oklahoma Insurance Department website. Oklahoma consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, get help finding coverage, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Other useful links include this page for car insurance prices in Oklahoma and this link where you can get more info about Stillwater coverage.

Buy online or local, you save

When you buy insurance online, you should never buy less coverage just to save a little money. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price.

Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, delays in paying claims, unfair underwriting practices or policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching car insurance companies is not as difficult as it may seem.

Budget-conscious car insurance is attainable on the web as well as from independent agents in Stillwater, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.