Auto Insurance in Maumelle Arkansas – 10 Tips to Better Rates

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Believe me, there are lots of people in the same boat. With consumers having so many options when it comes to auto insurance, it can be diffult for consumers to find the lowest cost insurance company.

Comprehensive Maumelle Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

Lowering your auto insurance rates doesn’t have to be difficult. You just need to take a couple of minutes getting comparison quotes online with multiple companies. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

• The recommended way consumers can analyze rates is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This method prevents you from having to do separate quotation requests for each company. One quote request gets you coverage quotes .
• A slightly less efficient method to get comparison quotes requires you to visit each company website and fill out their own quote form. For instance, we’ll pretend you want rates from State Farm, 21st Century and American Family. You would have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Maumelle, click here.
• The hardest method of getting rate comparisons is to waste gas driving to different Maumelle agent offices. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the professional guidance only provided by licensed Maumelle agents. However, consumers can get the lowest quotes online and get advice from an agent in your area. We’ll cover that shortly.

It’s up to you which method you use, but compare exactly the same coverage information with each company. If you have different limits and deductibles on each one it’s not possible to make a fair comparison in Maumelle.

Save big with these ten discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but companies offer discounts to reduce the price significantly. Most are applied when you get a quote, but a few need to be requested specifically before being credited. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• 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 to age 25.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.
• Payment Discounts – If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
• Defensive Driver – Successfully completing a driver safety course could save 5% or more if you qualify.
• Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
• Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than less cautious drivers.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Discount for Swiching Early – Some companies give discounts for buying a policy before your current expiration date. The savings is around 10%.
• Lower Rates for Military – Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
• Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.

It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Maumelle, click here to view.

Won’t my local insurance agent miss me?

Some people would rather visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! Licensed agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find the best rates but also keep your business local. Supporting local insurance agencies is definitely important in Maumelle.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is transmitted to companies in Maumelle who will battle for your business. There is no need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox.

Independent or Captive: It’s your choice

When looking for a good insurance agency, there are two types of agencies that you can select. Maumelle agents are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive. Either one can write coverage properly, but it’s worth mentioning how they are different because it can influence the selection process.

Independent Agents

Independent agencies are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of 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 include at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection.

Below is a short list of independent agents in Maumelle that may be able to provide price quotes.

Sentry Insurance Co – 5 Oak Ridge Dr – Maumelle, AR 72113 – (501) 803-3940

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents work for only one company and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage.

Below are Maumelle captive agencies who can help you get comparison quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 115 Audubon Dr # 15 – Maumelle, AR 72113 – (501) 851-7370

To view a full list of captive insurance agencies in Maumelle, click here to link.

Choosing a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Here are some questions to ask:

• How are claims handled?
• What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
• Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
• Are they full-time agents?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?

After receiving positive feedback and a good coverage price, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to properly service your auto insurance policy. Keep in mind policyholders can cancel your coverage for any reason so never assume you are locked into a specific agent for the entire policy term.

Car insurance coverage information

Understanding the coverages of auto insurance aids in choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are the normal coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.

Comprehensive coverages – This pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive can pay for things like a broken windshield, rock chips in glass, fire damage, hail damage and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Liability – This protects you from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.

Liability insurance covers claims like legal defense fees, emergency aid, bail bonds, pain and suffering and court costs. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. Arkansas state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.

Collision coverages – Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as crashing into a building, hitting a parking meter, scraping a guard rail and backing into a parked car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your vehicle.

Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (Arkansas limits are 25/50/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.

Coverage for medical payments – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for rehabilitation expenses, chiropractic care and hospital visits. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Better coverage you can count on

Cost effective auto insurance can be bought both online in addition to many Maumelle insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies do not provide online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We just showed you a lot of tips how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a smaller regional carrier. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate and Progressive.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

Additional information is located on the website for the Arkansas Insurance Department located here. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, file complaints about a company, and download brochures.