Insider Methods for the Cheapest Topeka Kansas Car Insurance

Overpriced car insurance can dwindle your savings account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Shopping your coverage around is a great way to cut your insurance bill. You have so many insurance companies to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates and find the lowest cost car insurance.

Smart consumers take time to check car insurance prices every six months due to the fact that insurance rates change frequently. Just because you found the lowest rates two years ago a different company probably has better rates today. There is a lot of bad advice regarding car insurance on the web, but with this article, you’re going to get a bunch of ideas how to put money back in your pocket.

Car Insurance Prices in Topeka

Finding lower Topeka car insurance rates doesn’t have to be difficult. Drivers just need to spend a few minutes to get quotes from different insurance companies. This can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

1. The single most time-saving way to get quotes for comparison would be an industry-wide quote request form (click to open form in new window). This easy form eliminates the need for multiple quote forms to each individual car insurance company. One form will get you rate comparisons from multiple companies.
2. A more difficult way to shop for car insurance online is spending the time to visit each company’s website to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, let’s assume you want to compare rates from Liberty Mutual, Esurance and Travelers. To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to insurance companies in Topeka, click here.
3. The hardest method to compare rates is to drive around to and from local Topeka insurance agencies. Shopping for car insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you require the professional advice of a licensed agent. Drivers can price shop your coverage online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll talk about that later.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you’re using exactly the same information on every quote. If the quotes have different limits and deductibles on each one it will be very difficult to make a fair comparison in Topeka.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help offset the cost. Most are applied when you purchase, but a few need to be specifically requested before you will receive the discount. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

• Student in College – Any of your kids living away from home attending college without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
• Theft Prevention System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accident claims.
• Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when buying car insurance.
• Federal Government Employee – Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
• Defensive Driver – Taking a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
• Good Student – A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.

It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky. But any discount will cut your overall premium however.

To see a list of insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts in Topeka, click here.

Quote online but still have a local agent

Some consumers would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Agents can point out coverage gaps and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is you can get better rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local insurance agencies is especially important in Topeka.

To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, the coverage information gets sent to participating agents in Topeka who will battle for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. Now that’s easy!

Topeka auto insurance agents are either independent or captive

If you’re trying to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two different types of agents that you can select. Agents are either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s good to learn the difference between them because it can influence the selection process.

Independent Insurance Agents

These agents are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency.

When searching for an agent, you should always get quotes from at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.

Listed below is a short list of independent agencies in Topeka that can give you pricing information.

D F KERR Agency Inc – 510 NW Broad St # 102 – Topeka, KS 66608 – (785) 235-1200
Peoples Insurance and Benefit – 1414 SW Ashworth Pl # 201 – Topeka, KS 66604 – (785) 271-8097
Peter Bellucci Agency Inc – 921 SW 37th St – Topeka, KS 66611 – (785) 266-0500
Chris Corbin Agency Inc – 2150 SW Westport Dr # 201 – Topeka, KS 66614 – (785) 273-2230
Insurance Services Office Inc – 12920 SW State Rd – Topeka, KS 66610 – (785) 256-6674

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents write business for a single company and some examples include Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents are trained well on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents.

Shown below are Topeka captive insurance agencies willing to provide price quotes.

Shelter Insurance – 1129 SW Wanamaker Rd # 100 – Topeka, KS 66604 – (785) 272-3791
American Family Insurance – 1215 SW Gage Blvd # A – Topeka, KS 66604 – (785) 271-1006
Kansas Farm Bureau – 800 SW Jackson St – Topeka, KS 66612 – (785) 234-4535
State Farm Insurance – 5638 SW 29th St # B – Topeka, KS 66614 – (785) 272-8400
Farmers Insurance Group – 3105 SW 29th St # 204 – Topeka, KS 66614 – (913) 248-3900
Allstate Insurance – 2685 Goal Ave – Topeka, KS 66614 – (785) 271-5060

To view a complete directory of Topeka captive insurance agents, visit this link.

Deciding on an auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

• What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
• Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
• Is working in the agency their full-time job?
• How long has their agency been open in Topeka?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• What insurance company do they write the most business with?
• Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?

After getting good answers for all questions you ask and an acceptable price quote, you may have just found an insurance agency that can service your policy.

Rate influencing factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining your car insurance rates. Understanding what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

• Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t careful. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, accidental death and term life insurance may be wasting your money. They may seem good initially, but if they’re wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
• What are your deductibles? – Physical damage insurance, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. Physical damage deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
• Cautious drivers pay less – Even a single ticket can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers who don’t get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations such as DUI or reckless driving may be required to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
• Rates may be higher depending on your occupation – Occupations like judges, architects and accountants have higher rates than average attributed to high stress and lengthy work days. On the flip side, professions such as scientists, athletes and the unemployed get better rates.
• Pleasure use saves money – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the higher your rate. Most companies price each vehicle’s coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your car insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.

Beware of misleading car insurance ads

Kansas drivers constantly see and hear ads for car insurance savings by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save after switching to them.

How does each company say the same thing?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer could be over the age of 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has excellent credit. A customer who fits that profile receives the best rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential customers who do not match the “perfect” profile will be charged higher premiums which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. This is how insurance companies can confidently claim big savings.

That is why you should compare as many rates as you can. It is impossible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Smart shoppers get results

Low-cost car insurance is attainable from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Topeka, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. A few companies don’t offer online quoting and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

For more Kansas car insurance information

More information can be found on the website for the Kansas Insurance Department. Click here for link. Kansas consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, view a list of available companies, and get help finding coverage.