Expert Advice on Lower Lakeville, MN Auto Insurance

Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me, there are a lot of people in Lakeville just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy. Since consumers have many choices, it is hard for the average consumer to choose the most affordable insurer.

It’s a good idea to compare rates on a regular basis due to the fact that insurance rates fluctuate regularly. Just because you had the lowest price a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Starting right now, forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re going to learn one of the quickest ways to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

Finding affordable coverage in Lakeville is not rocket science. If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you can learn to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. Minnesota drivers just need to learn how to shop for auto insurance on the web.

How to Compare Lakeville Auto Insurance Costs

Performing a rate comparison can take time and effort if you don’t utilize the fastest way to get free quotes. You could spend the better part of a day talking to insurance companies in Lakeville, or you can utilize online quotes to quickly compare rates.

All the larger companies enroll in a system that enables customers to enter their coverage request one time, and every company returns a competitive quote based on that data. This saves time by eliminating form submissions to every company. To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here to open in new window.

The one downside to doing it this way is you cannot specify which insurance companies you want to price. So if you prefer to pick specific insurance companies to compare, we have a listing of low cost auto insurance companies in Minnesota. Click here for list of insurance companies in Minnesota.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just compare apples-to-apples deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you compare unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Lakeville.

Buyer beware of auto insurance advertising tricks

Minnesota drivers can’t ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make the same claim that you’ll save big after switching to their company.

How can each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

Different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For instance, a preferred risk might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and drives newer vehicles. A propective insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don’t qualify for the requirements will be quoted higher premiums and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can advertise the savings. This emphasizes why you should get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict the company that will have the lowest rates.price insurance in Lakeville Minnesota

Discounts are great for lower rates

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find both the well known and the more hidden auto insurance savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
  • Anti-lock Brake System – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
  • Theft Prevention System – Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
  • Sign Online – A handful of insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Distant Student – Children who are attending college without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
  • Defensive Driving Course – Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.

It’s important to understand that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.

But buying car insurance online seems impersonal

A small number of people would rather buy from a licensed agent. Agents can help determine the best coverages and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find the lowest rates but also keep your business local.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, the quote information is immediately sent to insurance agents in Lakeville who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to your email. It doesn’t get any easier!

Picking an insurer shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

  • What insurance company do they write the most business with?
  • Do they assist clients in filing claims?
  • If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
  • Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
  • Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
  • Will your rates increase after a single accident?
  • How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?

Choose an insurance agent wisely

When researching local Lakeville agents, there are a couple of types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents can either be captive or independent. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s worth mentioning how they are different since it can impact the selection process.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents work for only one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. These agents are trained well in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.

Below are Lakeville captive agents that are able to give rate quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 20908 Holyoke Ave – Lakeville, MN 55044 – (952) 469-5771
American Family Insurance – 17575 Glasgow Ave – Lakeville, MN 55044 – (952) 432-2858
State Farm Insurance – 20838 Holyoke Ave – Lakeville, MN 55044 – (952) 469-2285
Farmers Insurance Group – 8500 210th St W – Lakeville, MN 55044 – (952) 469-5441

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, you should always contact at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.

Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Lakeville who can help you get price quote information.

Lakeville Minnesota car insurance

Rose Valley Insurance – 9932 Livery Ln – Lakeville, MN 55044 – (952) 469-6430
Thomas J Ginther Agency Inc – 16372 Kenrick Ave # V 140 – Lakeville, MN 55044 – (651) 452-4102
Country Insurance – 20141 Icenic Trl – Lakeville, MN 55044 – (952) 469-4888
New Market Agency Inc – 11276 210th St W – Lakeville, MN 55044 – (952) 223-2308
John H Pahl Agency Inc – 17316 Kenyon Ave # 101 – Lakeville, MN 55044 – (952) 898-2424

To view a full list of Lakeville insurance agents, visit this link.

Once you have received satisfactory answers to your questions and an acceptable price quote, you may have just found a car insurance agent that can provide auto insurance coverage.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When choosing adequate coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions can aid in determining if you might need professional guidance.

  • Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
  • Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Minnesota?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
  • Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Should I buy only the required Minnesota minimum liability coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

More detailed Minnesota auto insurance information can be read at the Minnesota Department of Commerce website. Minnesota consumers can file complaints about a company, read state legal mandates and laws, learn about insurance regulations, and learn about specific coverages.

More quotes mean more savings

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of tips how to lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with the least-expected company. They often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate or State Farm.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.