Learn How to Shop For El Dorado Kansas Auto Insurance Like an Informed Consumer

Searching for the lowest cost El Dorado auto insurance on the internet can be difficult for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. When there are so many insurers available, how can you possibly compare every one to find the best available rates?

You should take the time to compare prices once or twice a year since rates change regularly. Just because you had the best rates two years ago you may be paying too much now. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance on the web, but with this article, you’re going to get some solid techniques on how to slash your auto insurance rates.

Cut your premium with discounts

Companies don’t necessarily list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.

Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
Claim Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially compared to drivers who are more careless.
Sign Early and Save – Some companies give discounts for switching to them before your current expiration date. It can save you around 10%.
Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
Low Mileage – Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
Sign Online – A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing on their website.
Drivers Education – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
Theft Prevention System – Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck.

To see a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Kansas, follow this link.

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in El Dorado, Kansas

To find the best auto insurance prices, there are several ways to get quotes from different in El Dorado, Kansasinsurance companies. The fastest way to compare insurance prices consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be done using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way to get the best comparison quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison click here to open form in new window. This type of form prevents you from having to do boring form submissions for every auto insurance company. Just one form compares rates from all major companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.

A different way to get quotes online is going to each individual company website to request a price quote. For instance, we’ll assume you want rates from USAA, GEICO and Travelers. To get each rate you have to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular.

For a handy list of car insurance company links in El Dorado, click here.

The hardest way to get comparison rates is to waste gas driving to insurance agents’ offices. Buying insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you want the professional advice of a local El Dorado agent. You can, however, price shop your coverage online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll talk about that later.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make sure you use the exact same deductibles and coverage limits on every quote. If you have different deductibles you will not be able to find the best deal in El Dorado. Having just a slight variation in limits could mean much higher rates. Just keep in mind that comparing more company’s prices will enable you to find lower pricing.

Educated Consumers Know How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Understanding what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices. price insurance in El Dorado Kansas

Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can thwart auto theft.
Multiple policies with one company can save – Most companies will give a discount to customers who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
More performance means more cost – The performance of the car you own makes a big difference in how high your rates are. Lower performance four cylinder passenger vehicles receive the most favorable rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Battle of the sexes – The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage. They also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are most likely to cause an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.

What is the best insurance coverage?

When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

These are some specific questions may help you determine if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
What if I total my vehicle and owe more than it’s worth?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

What about using a local agent?

Certain consumers would prefer to sit down with an agent. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find lower rates and still choose a local agent.

Once you complete this simple form, the quote information gets sent to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no need to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. How cool is that?! You can find the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with.

Deciding on an insurance company should depend on more than just a low price. These questions are important to ask:

Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?

Different types of El Dorado insurance agencies

When finding a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Agents are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive).

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents are contracted to one company like Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agencies receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often buy from captive agents mainly due to the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.

The following are captive insurance agents in El Dorado that can give you price quote information.

American Family Insurance – 615 N Main St – El Dorado, KS 67042 – (316) 321-7002
Farmers Insurance Group – 223 N Main St – El Dorado, KS 67042 – (316) 321-2305
Farm Bureau Insurance – 341 N Main St – El Dorado, KS 67042 – (316) 320-3166
State Farm Insurance – 123 E 2nd Ave – El Dorado, KS 67042 – (316) 320-2136
Shelter Insurance – 1236 W Central Ave – El Dorado, KS 67042 – (316) 322-7200

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from multiple independent agents for the best price selection.Many can place coverage with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

Shown below is a list of independent insurance agencies in El Dorado who can help you get comparison quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 341 N Main St – El Dorado, KS 67042 – (316) 320-3166
Insurance Center Inc – 120 W Central Ave – El Dorado, KS 67042 – (316) 321-5600

To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in El Dorado, visit this link.

Upon getting acceptable answers to these questions and a good coverage price, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that can adequately provide auto insurance.

Better coverage you can count on

When you buy insurance online, it’s not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

Cost effective auto insurance can be purchased online and also from your neighborhood El Dorado agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

In this article, we presented many tips how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.