Methods for Lowering Your Manitowoc Car Insurance Rates

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me when I say you’re not alone.

Many insurers compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a provider to find the best price available.

How to Compare Car Insurance in Manitowoc, WI

When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways to compare rate quotes from different in Manitowoc, WIinsurance companies. The recommended way to compare insurance prices is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.

The recommended way consumers can analyze rates is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This method saves time by eliminating a different quote for each company you want a rate for. Just one form will return quotes from multiple companies.
A harder way to shop for car insurance online requires you to visit the website for each individual company to complete their respective quote request forms. For sake of this example, we’ll pretend you want to compare rates from USAA, Allstate and Progressive. To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site and enter your policy data, and that’s why the first method is more popular.
For a list of links to insurance companies in Manitowoc, click here.
The least efficient method of comparing rate quotes to different agent offices. The internet makes this process obsolete unless you prefer the professional guidance only provided by licensed agents. However, consumers can price shop your coverage online but buy from a local insurance agent and we’ll touch on that later.

It’s up to you which method you use, but be sure to compare identical coverages and limits on every quote. If your comparisons have mixed coverages it’s not possible to determine the lowest rate in Manitowoc. Quoting even small variations in limits may result in a large different in cost. Just remember that comparing more company’s prices helps you find the best rates.

Cut your car insurance rates with discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of both the well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.

Life Insurance Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Driver Safety – Successfully completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
Save over 55 – Older drivers may receive a small decrease in premiums.
Safe Driver Discount – Insureds without accidents may save up to 50% more than their less cautious counterparts.
Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in Manitowoc may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.

It’s important to note that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn’t work that way.

To see a list of insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Wisconsin, click here to view.

Decisions you make can impact your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that could result in lower car insurance prices.

The following are some of the factors that factor into premiums.

Your location affects your rates – Being located in less populated areas can save you money when it comes to car insurance. Fewer people means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers who live in large Wisconsin cities have to deal with traffic congestion and longer commute times. More time on the road can result in more accidents.
An active claims history can cost you – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Insurance companies in Wisconsin generally give cheaper rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
The type of vehicle makes a difference – The type of car you own makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates are generally reserved for economy passenger vehicles, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
Add-on coverages can add up – There are many additional coverages that can waste your money when buying car insurance. Things like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and membership fees are some examples. They may seem like a good idea initially, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.
Safer cars cost less to insure – Safer cars are cheaper to insure. These vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.
Discounts for multiple policies – Many insurance companies will give a discount to policyholders who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to 10 percent or more. If you currently are using one company, it’s still a good idea to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.

But I want to work with a local agent

Certain consumers would prefer to sit down with an agent and that is OK! One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is you may find lower rates but also keep your business local.

After filling out this simple form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will battle for your coverage. There is no reason to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. How cool is that?! You can find better rates and work with a local agent.

Selecting an insurer should depend on more than just the premium amount. Agents should be asked these questions:

Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
How long has their agency been in business in Manitowoc?
Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Wisconsin?
Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?

Car insurance agents in Manitowoc come in two varieties

When researching a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple different types of agents from which to choose. Manitowoc agents are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Agency Captives

These agents are contracted to one company like AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. These agents are well schooled on their company’s products which can be an advantage.

Listed below is a list of captive agencies in Manitowoc willing to provide price quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 1415 Washington St – Manitowoc, WI 54220 – (920) 682-2161
American Family Insurance – 3624 Calumet Ave – Manitowoc, WI 54220 – (920) 682-7979

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, you should always get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.

Shown below are Manitowoc independent insurance agencies that are able to give comparison quotes.

Gerald Dunn Agency – 1807 Marshall St – Manitowoc, WI 54220 – (920) 684-8229
Catholic Knights Insurance – 1517 S 39th St – Manitowoc, WI 54220 – (920) 682-9011
Tim Terp Agency Inc – 405 N Rapids Rd # 1 – Manitowoc, WI 54220 – (920) 682-5000
Gene Drumm Insurance Inc – 5105 Michigan Ave – Manitowoc, WI 54220 – (920) 684-8738
Mark Rhein Agency – 2904 Custer St – Manitowoc, WI 54220 – (920) 682-4659

To view a complete directory of car insurance agents in Manitowoc, go to this page.

After receiving reasonable responses and locked in a price quote, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that will provide car insurance coverage.

Additional detailed information is available at the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance website. Wisconsin drivers can find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Car insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. They all seem to make the same claim about savings if you switch to them. But how can every company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer could be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and has a high credit rating. Any driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who are not a match for the requirements must pay higher prices which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. That is how companies can advertise the savings. This illustrates why you absolutely need to compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Shop smart and save

We just showed you some good ideas how to save on car insurance. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.

When buying insurance coverage, it’s very important that you do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later that it was a big error on their part. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.