5 Ways You Can Buy Auto Insurance for Less in Payette Idaho

Feel like you’re a prisoner to overpriced auto insurance? Believe me, many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out. With so many companies to choose from, it can be challenging to pick the best provider.

It’s smart to compare rates every six months since rates are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you think you had the best deal a couple years back you can probably find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the things you must know in order to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

Don’t miss these 5 discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list every discount very clearly, so we researched some of the best known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

More Vehicles More Savings – Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Government Employees – Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
Defensive Driver – Taking a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if you qualify.
Sign Online – Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy online.
Auto/Home Discount – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you could get a free auto insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

To see a list of insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Payette, follow this link.

When might I need an agent?

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.

Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
Should I buy only the required Idaho minimum liability coverage?

If you’re not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

What about my local Payette agents?

Some consumers would prefer to get advice from a local agent. Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help you file claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is you may find lower rates and still have an agent to talk to.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your insurance data is transmitted to companies in Payette who will battle for your business. You never need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide.

Picking an insurer should depend on more than just the premium amount. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
Is working in the agency their full-time job?
Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
Can they give you a list of client referrals?

Two types of insurance agencies

If you’re trying to find a good Payette insurance agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures that you can select. Agents are either captive or independent (non-captive). Either one can do a good job, but it’s worth learning how they are different because it can influence your agent selection.

Agency Captives

Captive insurance agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. Captive agents receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage.

Below are captive agents in Payette who can help you get price quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 1505 3rd Ave N – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-4414

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, you should always contact at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection.

Below are Payette independent agents that are able to give price quotes.

Boerner Agency – 934 1st Ave S – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-2368
All Valley Agency Inc – 921 Center Ave – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-3435
Farm Bureau Insurance – 1505 3rd Ave N – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-4414
Three Rivers Agency – 26 S Main St – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-9311
Fitch Insurance Agencies – 815 Center Ave – Payette, ID 83661 – (208) 642-9565

For a complete listing of licensed insurance agents in Payette, view this link.

Once you have received answers to your satisfaction and a good coverage price, you’ve probably found a car insurance agent that is a good match to provide auto insurance coverage. Just keep in mind policyholders can terminate coverage whenever you wish so never feel you are locked into a specific agent with no way out.

Auto insurance coverage basics

Having a good grasp of auto insurance helps when choosing which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverage types found on most auto insurance policies.

Medical expense insurance – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for immediate expenses for things like ambulance fees, nursing services, dental work and doctor visits. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as falling objects, hitting a deer, rock chips in glass, hitting a bird and fire damage. The most a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Liability insurance – This protects you from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have liability limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a limit of $100,000 per injured person, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability coverage pays for claims like medical services, funeral expenses, medical expenses, emergency aid and court costs. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Idaho state minimum liability requirements are 20,000/50,000/15,000 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.

Collision coverages – This will pay to fix damage to your vehicle from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision can pay for things like hitting a mailbox, colliding with another moving vehicle, backing into a parked car, crashing into a ditch and colliding with a tree. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your vehicle.

Due to the fact that many Idaho drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 20/50/15), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Additional Idaho consumer information

Additional detailed information is located at the Idaho Department of Insurance website. Idaho drivers can find out which companies have the most complaints, file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, and report car insurance fraud.

A tidy conclusion

In this article, we covered many tips how you can lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. They may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice full coverage to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.