Sapulpa Oklahoma Auto Insurance Buying Tips You Aren’t Supposed to Know

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can empty your personal savings and put the squeeze on your family’s finances. Shopping your coverage around is a smart way to lower your monthly bill.

Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive all claim big savings, bombarding you with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the corporate glitz and take the time to shop coverage around.

It’s a good habit to compare rates quite often due to the fact that insurance rates change quite often. Even if you think you had the lowest rates two years ago you may be paying too much now. Starting now, forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you how to quote online to find lower rates on auto insurance.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in big savings.

Listed below are a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate premiums.

• Big city or small town – Living in a rural area can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents. Urban drivers have much more traffic to deal with and much longer commute distances. More time commuting means higher likelihood of an accident.
• More claims means more premium – If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Companies in Oklahoma generally give lower rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
• Add-on coverages can add up – There are a ton of additional coverages that you can buy on your policy. Things like roadside assistance, towing coverage and motor club memberships are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if you don’t need them remove them from your policy.
• More performance means more cost – The performance of the vehicle you own makes a big difference in determining your rates. The lowest base rates are for lower performance four cylinder passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
• Are you male or female? – Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Men and women have accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species have costlier accidents. Men also tend to get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
• Pleasure use saves money – The more you drive in a year’s time the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage.
• Credit scores impact auto insurance rates – Having a bad credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Therefore, if your credit history is lower than you’d like, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your rating. People with excellent credit tend to be more responsible than drivers who have poor credit.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always publicize every discount very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance.

• Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver’s education if offered at their school.
• Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
• No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay much less as compared to drivers who are more careless.
• Bundle and Save – When you have multiple policies with the same company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
• Defensive Driver – Completing a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
• Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Lower Rates for Military – Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
• Discount for New Cars – Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Paperless Signup – Some insurance companies will give a small break just for signing your application over the internet.

It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.

But buying car insurance online seems impersonal

Certain consumers would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you can get the best rates but still work with a licensed agent.

After completing this quick form, your coverage information is transmitted to agents in your area who will battle for your coverage. There is no reason to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find better rates AND an agent nearby.

Picking an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. These are valid questions to ask:

• Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• How are claims handled?
• Are they full-time agents?
• Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?

How to choose the best insurance agency in Sapulpa

When finding local Sapulpa agents, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Sapulpa agents can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.

Agency Captives

Captive insurance agents write business for a single company such as Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They usually cannot shop your coverage around so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agencies are well schooled in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

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

State Farm Insurance – 127 E Dewey Ave – Sapulpa, OK 74066 – (918) 224-1727
Shelter Insurance – 401 S Main St – Sapulpa, OK 74066 – (918) 224-7010

Independent Agents

Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you include several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Shown below are independent insurance agents in Sapulpa that can give you rate quotes.

Insurance Sales Agency Inc – 208 E Dewey Ave # 200 – Sapulpa, OK 74066 – (918) 224-9370
Mc Masters Insurance Counselor – 26 S Park St – Sapulpa, OK 74066 – (918) 224-5666
Insurance Sales Agency Inc – 208 E Dewey Ave # 200 – Sapulpa, OK 74066 – (918) 224-9370
Lon T Jackson Agency Inc – 26 S Park St – Sapulpa, OK 74066 – (918) 224-1245

To view a complete directory of Sapulpa insurance agents, simply jump to this page.

Upon getting good answers to any questions you have and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.

Even more information can be found at the Oklahoma Insurance Department website. Oklahoma consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, find out industry alerts, and read industry bulletins.

Other informative sites include this page for auto insurance prices in Oklahoma and QuoteClickSave.com.

Smart consumers save more

Cheap auto insurance is attainable on the web as well as from independent agents in Sapulpa, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer online quoting and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don’t be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage only to find out that they should have had better coverage. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.