Consumer Tested Strategies for Finding Cheap Neenah Wisconsin Auto Insurance

Nobody I know likes having to buy auto insurance, in particular when their premiums are too high.

Drivers have so many insurance companies to pick from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, having more insurers makes it harder to compare rates and find the lowest cost auto insurance.

Discounts are great for lower rates

Car insurance companies do not advertise all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the more common as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

  • Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • 55 and Retired – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for reduced rates.
  • Safety Course Discount – Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
  • Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Discount for Swiching Early – Some companies give discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Wisconsin, follow this link.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Neenah

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • Pleasure use saves money – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles that are left in the garage receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Verify your auto insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Special features that cut premiums – Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping car theft.
  • Claim-free discounts can add up – If you file claims often, you can look forward to higher rates. Companies in Wisconsin generally give lower rates to people who do not file claims often. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
  • The type of vehicle makes a difference – The performance of the vehicle you are insuring makes a huge difference in determining your rates. Small economy passenger vehicles generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? – The liability section of your policy will protect you if you are found liable for damages from an accident. It will provide legal defense starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Do you know your deductibles? – Deductibles for physical damage define the amount you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply would be running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, or theft. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • Women pay lower rates – Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, don’t assume that men are worse drivers. Both sexes tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also have more aggressive citations such as reckless driving.
  • Poor driving leads to higher costs – Whether or not you get tickets has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Only having one citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Drivers with dangerous tickets like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.

Your insurance agent down the street

Some people would prefer to buy from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The best thing about comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates but also keep your business local.

To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, your coverage information is submitted to companies in Neenah who will give you bids for your coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy! You’ll get the best rates and a licensed agent to work with.

Picking an provider shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:

  • Can glass repairs be made at your home?
  • How are they compensated?
  • If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
  • If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
  • How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
  • Can they give you a list of client referrals?
  • How are claims handled?

What type of Neenah auto insurance agent is right for you?

When researching an insurance agent, there are two different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are either independent or captive.

Agency Captives

This type of agents can only place business with one company and examples are American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They are unable to compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. They receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage.

Listed below are Neenah captive agents who may provide you with price quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 1139 Winneconne Ave – Neenah, WI 54956 – (920) 722-6021
Farmers Insurance Group – 1907 American Dr – Neenah, WI 54956 – (920) 722-6609
Allstate Insurance – 1075 S Lake St – Neenah, WI 54956 – (920) 727-1070
American Family Insurance – 1416 S Commercial St – Neenah, WI 54956 – (920) 725-2110

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.

When shopping rates, we recommend you include at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison.

Listed below are Neenah independent insurance agents who can help you get rate quotes.

Craig Te Ronde Insurance Inc – 1108 Breezewood Ln – Neenah, WI 54956 – (920) 722-4277
Fox Valley Agency – 116 S Commercial St – Neenah, WI 54956 – (920) 729-2875
Brucks Insurance – 2955 E Ridge Pl – Neenah, WI 54956 – (920) 725-0239

For a full directory of licensed insurance agents in Neenah, visit this site.

Once you have positive responses to your questions and an acceptable price quote, you’ve probably found a car insurance agent that is a good match to service your policy.

Read more about Wisconsin auto insurance

More detailed Wisconsin auto insurance information can be found at the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance website. Consumers can read consumer alerts, get help finding coverage, and learn about specific coverages.

Other useful links include III.org’s auto insurance page and this list of insurance agents in Neenah.

Smart consumers save more

Cheaper auto insurance is possible on the web and with local Neenah insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

You just learned a lot of information how to get a better price on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small mutual company. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like State Farm or Progressive.

When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.