Free Guide to Spending Less for Altus Oklahoma Car Insurance Online

Finding the best price on Altus car insurance is challenging if you’re new to quoting online. But don’t let that discourage you because there is an easy way to compare rates.

It’s a good idea to check car insurance prices periodically since insurance rates tend to go up over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Starting now, ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re going to learn one of the best ways to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

Compare the Market for Car Insurance in Altus, OK

Performing a rate comparison can take hours if you don’t know the fastest way to get free quotes. You can waste hours talking about coverages with insurance companies in Altus, or you could save time and use online quoting to get pricing more quickly.

Most major companies take part in a program where insurance shoppers send in one quote, and every company then returns a price quote based on that data. This eliminates the need for quotation requests to each individual car insurance company.

To use this form to compare rates click here to start a free quote.

The one downside to using this type of form is that consumers can’t choose which insurance companies to get quotes from. So if you prefer to choose from a list of companies to request quotes from, we have a listing of car insurance companies in Oklahoma. Click to view list.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just compare apples-to-apples quote information for every quote you compare. If your comparisons have unequal deductibles or liability limits then you won’t be able to determine the lowest rate in Altus.

Save money by taking advantage of these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
Lower Rates for Military – Having a family member in the military can result in better rates.
Memberships – Being a member of certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when buying car insurance.
Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class in high school.
Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
Safety Course Discount – Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
Employee of Federal Government – Simply working for the federal government could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.
Theft Prevention System – Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.

It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

Smart Buyers can Save Money

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that come into play when calculating the price you pay for car insurance. Understanding what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

What type of vehicle do you drive? – The performance level of the vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in how high your rates are. The lowest base rates tend to be for low performance passenger models, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Having a spouse can save you money – Getting married can get you a discount when buying car insurance. It means you’re more mature than a single person and it’s statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Lower rates with optional equipment – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart car theft.
Where do you drive? – The higher the mileage driven in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your car insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle.
High credit ratings translate to low rates – Your credit history is a huge factor in determining your rates. If your credit history is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have lower credit scores.
Liability coverage is peace of mind – The liability section of your policy will protect you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Some insurers will award you with lower prices to insureds who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you may still want to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
High numbers of claims are not good – If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies in Oklahoma provide lower rates to people who do not file claims often. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.

Won’t my local insurance agent miss me?

A small number of people would prefer to talk to a local agent and that is just fine! Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you may find the lowest rates but also keep your business local.

To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), the quote information is transmitted to local insurance agents in Altus who will compete for your coverage. There is no reason to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy!

Deciding on a company requires more thought than just a cheap price. Here are some questions to ask: save money concept

Can glass repairs be made at your home?
How often do they review policy coverages?
Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?

The type of car insurance agent you choose is important

When looking for local Altus agents, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Agents can either be independent or captive. While both can do a good job, but it’s good to learn the difference between them because it can impact your agent selection.

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents work for only one company and examples are Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so always compare other rates. Captive agencies are well schooled in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some people will only choose to use a captive agent mostly because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

The following is a list of captive agents in Altus who may provide you with price quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 915 E Broadway St – Altus, OK 73521 – (580) 482-6469

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When comparing rates, we recommend you include multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.Many can place coverage with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.

Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Altus that can give you rate quotes.

Josh Messenger Insurance – 601 1/2 N Main St – Altus, OK 73521 – (580) 482-9416
Liles and Thompson Insurance – 1429 N Main St – Altus, OK 73521 – (580) 482-8602

For a full directory of Altus insurance agents, simply jump to this page.

After getting answers to your satisfaction to your questions as well as a affordable price, you may have just found a car insurance agent that will insure your vehicles.

Everyone needs different coverages

When it comes to buying coverage, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

For instance, these questions may help you determine if your situation will benefit from professional help.

Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
What are Oklahoma no-fault laws?
Do I need higher deductibles?
Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?

If you can’t answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

More tips and info about car insurance can be read at the Oklahoma Insurance Department website. Oklahoma drivers can learn about specific coverages, find disaster information, find a variety of consumer forms, and discover disciplinary actions.

Additional helpful sites include these car insurance answers and this link which helps you find a Altus agent.

How can State Farm and Allstate save drivers who switch?

Consumers can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as State Farm and Allstate. All the companies make the same claim that you’ll save big if you move your policy.

How do they all make the same claim?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk might be profiled as a mature driver, has no prior claims, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Drivers who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, drivers should quote coverage with many companies. It’s impossible to know which car insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Do the work, save more money

Consumers switch companies for many reasons like policy non-renewal, delays in responding to claim requests, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and even policy cancellation. Whatever your reason, finding a new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

You just learned a lot of techniques to shop for car insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from the least-expected company.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don’t be tempted to reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, someone sacrificed physical damage coverage and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.