How to Know You’re Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in Milbank

Sick and tired of paying out the nose to buy car insurance? You are no different than many other South Dakota consumers. You have so many insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more challenging to find a good deal.

It’s smart to shop coverage around quite often because insurance rates go up and down regularly. Even if you think you had the best deal last year a different company probably has better rates today. So just block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in how to quote online to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Buying car insurance in Milbank is quite easy. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to save some money using these methods. South Dakota vehicle owners only need to know how to buy auto insurance online.

Comprehensive Milbank Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

Getting better auto insurance pricing is a fairly straight forward process. Just take the time to get quotes from different insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

1. The best way consumers can analyze rates would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This easy form eliminates the need for repetitive form entry for each company you want a rate for. Taking the time to complete one form will get you rate comparisons from several companies.
2. A more difficult way to shop for auto insurance online requires you to visit each company website and request a quote. For instance, let’s assume you want rates from Liberty Mutual, GEICO and Travelers. To get rate quotes you would need to spend time on each company’s site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular.

   For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Milbank, click here.

3. The least recommended method of getting rate comparisons is to drive around to different Milbank agent offices. Shopping for auto insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the personal advice of a licensed agent. You can, however, get the lowest quotes online but still have the advice of a local agent and we’ll touch on that later.

Which method you use is up to you, but compare the exact same quote information for every quote you compare. If you compare unequal deductibles or liability limits you will not be able to determine the lowest rate in Milbank.

Don’t overlook these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t necessarily list all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down some of the more common as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• No Accidents – Drivers who don’t have accidents can save substantially when compared to drivers who are more careless.
• Student Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course in school.
• Theft Prevention System – Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
• Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
• Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings up to 30%.
• Homeowners Discount – Simply owning a home can save you money because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
• Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies don’t profit that way.

To choose insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Milbank, click here.

What impacts Milbank insurance rates?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” companies use to determine prices.

• Better crash test results mean better rates – Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. These vehicles have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity means less money paid by your insurance company and thus lower rates.
• Theft deterrents lower rates – Choosing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your car from being stolen.
• Men fork out a little more – Statistics demonstrate women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don’t assume that women are better drivers. Both sexes are in accidents at about the same rate, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also statistically receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
• Consolidate policies to earn discounts – Some insurers will award you with lower prices to policyholders who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to five, ten or even twenty percent. If you currently are using one company, you may still want to compare rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. Drivers may still find better rates by buying auto insurance from a different company.

Car Insurance through a local agent

A small number of people just want to get advice from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Licensed agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you may find lower rates and still have an agent to talk to.

After filling out this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is sent to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your business. There is no need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered to your email. How’s that for easy!

Selecting an insurer needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• Does the agency support the community they serve?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
• What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
• If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?

The different types of insurance agents

When finding local Milbank agents, you must know there are a couple different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents can either be captive or independent. While both can do a good job, but it’s good to learn how they differ since it can impact the type of agent you choose

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents write business for a single company and some examples include Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

Listed below is a list of captive insurance agents in Milbank who may provide you with rate quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 1203 E 4th Ave # 102 – Milbank, SD 57252 – (605) 432-5393

Independent Agents

Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency. When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison.

Below are Milbank independent agencies who can help you get comparison quotes.

Newman Agency Inc – 705 E 3rd Ave – Milbank, SD 57252 – (605) 432-7939
Rollins Insurance – 321 S Main St – Milbank, SD 57252 – (605) 432-9136
Zuver Agency – 204 S Main St – Milbank, SD 57252 – (605) 432-5184
Trevor Cramer Agency – 235 E 2nd Ave – Milbank, SD 57252 – (605) 432-9507
Dakota Insurance – 228 S Main St – Milbank, SD 57252 – (605) 432-4566

To view a full list of Milbank insurance agents, visit this site.

Upon getting acceptable answers to these questions and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that can adequately provide auto insurance.

When should I use an insurance agent?

When choosing coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions might point out if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.

• Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
• Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
• When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
• At what point should I drop full coverage?
• Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the South Dakota Division of Insurance website. South Dakota drivers can file complaints about a company, get help finding coverage, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and view a list of available companies.

Do drivers who switch really save $480 a year?

Consumers in South Dakota get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by Allstate and Progressive. They all have a common claim that you can save if you switch to their company.

How do they all claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. An example of a profitable customer might be profiled as over the age of 50, has no driving citations, and has a high credit rating. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.

Drivers who don’t qualify for this ideal profile will be quoted a higher premium and this can result in the customer not buying. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can state the savings. This emphasizes why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More quotes mean more savings

We just showed you a lot of information how to reduce auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a small local company. Regional companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.

When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped full coverage only to find out that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

The cheapest auto insurance is definitely available both online as well as from independent agents in Milbank, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.