Best Auto Insurance Exclusively for Marion Residents

Price shopping your Marion auto insurance can be hard for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. People have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become a ton of work to find lower rates in Marion.

It is always a good idea to get comparison quotes periodically due to the fact that insurance rates go up and down regularly. Just because you found the best deal on your last policy other companies may now be cheaper. Starting right now, forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because we’re going to show you the best way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Learn How to Lower your Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.

The following are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Car features impact rates – Choosing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
Having a spouse can save you money – Having a wife or husband helps lower the price on your auto insurance policy. Having a spouse is viewed as being more mature and responsible and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Liability coverage is cheap – Liability insurance is the coverage that protects you when a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Never allow your policy to lapse – Driving without insurance can get your license suspended and auto insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage have a gap. And not only will insurance be more expensive, getting caught without coverage may earn you a steep fine or even jail time.You may have to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Iowa department of motor vehicles.
Traffic citations inflate rates – Just one moving violation can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who don’t get tickets get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to keep their license.

Discounts are basically free money

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you may find discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied at quote time, but less common discounts must be inquired about prior to receiving the credit. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Own a Home – Owning a home in Marion can save you money because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
Good Students Pay Less – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
E-sign – A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy over the internet.
Auto/Life Discount – Some companies give lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
Lower Rates for Military – Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Defensive Driver – Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Federal Government Employee – Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

Do I need a local agent?

A small number of people prefer to talk to a local agent and that is just fine! Licensed agents can help determine the best coverages and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain lower rates and still have an agent to talk to. Supporting local agencies is especially important in Marion.

Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), your information is submitted to participating agents in Marion who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no reason to leave your computer as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier!

Compare rates from both independent and captive auto insurance agents

When finding a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Marion are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive). While both can do a good job, but it’s important to know how they differ because it can impact the type of agent you choose

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.

When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to contact at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller regional carriers who may have lower rates.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px" src="https://www.findnewcarinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-110.jpg" alt="Marion Iowa insurance quotes” />

The following is a list of independent insurance agencies in Marion that may be able to provide price quotes.

Don Heald Insurance – 610 10th St – Marion, IA 52302 – (319) 377-8454
Bouslog Insurance Corp – 360 7th Ave – Marion, IA 52302 – (319) 377-7321
John Gagnon Agency – 755 22nd St – Marion, IA 52302 – (319) 377-7979

Agency Captives

Captive insurance agents can only write with one company like State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. These agents are not able to provide prices from multiple companies so keep that in mind. They are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers sometimes buy from captive agents partially due to high brand loyalty and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

The following are captive agencies in Marion that can give you comparison quotes.

American Family Insurance – 292 7th Ave – Marion, IA 52302 – (319) 377-1612
Shelter Insurance – 147 Marion Blvd – Marion, IA 52302 – (319) 373-5570
State Farm Insurance – 2840 7th Ave # 3 – Marion, IA 52302 – (319) 373-6730
Allstate Insurance – 630 10th St – Marion, IA 52302 – (319) 377-7885

To view a full list of captive insurance agents in Marion, please go to this site.

Picking an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
Is working in the agency their full-time job?
Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?

Once you have good answers to any questions you have and an acceptable price quote, you’ve probably found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.

Save $403 a year? Really?

Consumers in Iowa can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you switch to them.

How can each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer could be over the age of 50, owns a home, and has a short commute. Any driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Consumers who do not match these standards will be quoted higher premiums which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why it’s extremely important to get a wide range of price quotes. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Additional reading for auto insurance information

More information is located on the Iowa Insurance Division website found here. Consumers can read consumer alerts, get help finding coverage, and report car insurance fraud.

The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Marion

Basics to Finding the Best Insurance Agent in Marion

Do the work, save more money

The cheapest auto insurance can be purchased both online in addition to many Marion insurance agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where someone dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.

We covered some good ideas how you can lower your auto insurance rates. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even find the lowest rates come from a small mutual company.