Powell, WY Auto Insurance Savings the Insurance Agents Don’t Want You to Know About

Are you sick and tired of scraping the payment together to pay your car insurance bill each month? You are no different than most other car owners in Wyoming. Big-name insurance companies like GEICO, 21st Century and Progressive all claim big savings with ads and it can be hard to see past the corporate glitz and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It is always a good idea to shop coverage around quite often because prices change regularly. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price a year ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to one of the quickest ways to find better coverage at a better price.

Lower the Price of Insurance with These Tips

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in big savings.

Listed below are some of the items used by your company to calculate premiums.

• Choose a safe vehicle and save – Safer cars get lower rates. The safest vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.
• Performance makes a difference – The performance level of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates are generally reserved for low performance passenger models, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
• Big city or small town – Being located in a rural area can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers who live in large Wyoming cities regularly have much more traffic to deal with and longer commutes to work. Higher commute times means higher likelihood of an accident.
• Rates may be lower depending on your job – Jobs such as doctors, architects and accountants have higher rates than average in part from high stress and lengthy work days. On the flip side, jobs such as farmers, athletes and the unemployed get better rates.
• Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

Powell Auto Insurance Comparisons

Finding a lower price on insurance can be quick and easy. You just need to spend a few minutes comparing rate quotes from different insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.

1. The fastest way to find the lowest comparison rates is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This form eliminates the need for separate forms to each individual auto insurance company. Filling out one form gets you price quotes from all major companies.
2. A more difficult way to analyze rates consists of going to each company website and complete a new quote form. For sake of this example, let’s say you want comparison quotes from Farmers, Progressive and Liberty Mutual. 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 handy list of car insurance company links in Powell, click here.
3. The hardest way to get comparison rates is to spend your day driving to and from local insurance agencies. Shopping for auto insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you have a need for the personal advice of a local agent. It is possible to 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 ensure you are comparing exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for every company. If each company quotes differing limits you will not be able to decipher which rate is best in Powell.

Ads can be misleading

Wyoming drivers constantly see and hear ads for car insurance savings by companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. All the ads have a common claim that you’ll save big if you move to them.

How does each company say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential customers who don’t meet this ideal profile must pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. This is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

This illustrates why it is so important to get a wide range of price quotes. It’s not possible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Cut your auto insurance rates with discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there are discounts available to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but less common discounts must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings. If you’re not getting every credit available, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Early Signing – A few companies offer discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
• New Car Discount – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less when compared to frequent claim filers.
• Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.
• Resident Student – Any of your kids who are attending college and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
• Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
• Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive better auto insurance rates.
• Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
• Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military can result in better rates.
• Club Memberships – Participating in a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for auto insurance.

Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any amount of discount will bring down your overall premium however.

To see a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Wyoming, click this link.

What if I want to buy from a local Powell agent?

A small number of people just want to visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. Educated insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and give you someone to call. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is you can get the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from small agencies is especially important in Powell.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your insurance coverage information is sent to participating agents in Powell who will battle for your coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. How’s that for easy!

Captive and independent Powell insurance agencies

When searching for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Powell are categorized either independent or captive. Either one can do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning the differences because it can impact buying decisions.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agencies are not locked into one company but rather can write business with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you include several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.

Shown below are independent agencies in Powell that are able to give rate quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 762 E 3rd St – Powell, WY 82435 – (307) 754-5769
Nelson Insurance – 109 N Clark St – Powell, WY 82435 – (307) 754-7211

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies have only one company to place business with such as AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. They are unable to shop your coverage around so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They receive extensive training on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.

The following are Powell captive agents that are able to give rate quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 762 E 3rd St – Powell, WY 82435 – (307) 754-5769
Farmers Insurance Group – 887 E North St – Powell, WY 82435 – (307) 754-9285
State Farm Insurance – 249 N Clark St – Powell, WY 82435 – (307) 754-9541

For a complete listing of captive insurance agents in Powell, visit this link.

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

• Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
• Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
• How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
• Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
• Can they give you a list of client referrals?
• Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?

After getting answers to your satisfaction to any questions you have and a low price estimate, you’ve probably found a car insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When choosing adequate coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions can help discover if your situation may require specific advice.

• Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
• What is the minimum liability in Wyoming?
• How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• Should I buy only the required Wyoming minimum liability coverage?
• Is Wyoming a no-fault state?
• Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.

Additional auto insurance information is located on the website for the Wyoming Insurance Department found here. Wyoming drivers can view a list of available companies, view agent and company licensing information, and get help finding coverage.

Smart consumers save more

You just learned some good ideas how to lower your auto insurance rates. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies. Regional companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like Allstate or State Farm.

Low-cost auto insurance can be sourced from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Powell, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.