Have you had enough of being strong-armed to insure your vehicles every month? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in Wyoming. Lots of insurers contend for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to discover the definitive lowest rate possible.
If you have a policy now or are just looking to switch companies, you can use these tips to cut your premiums while maximizing coverage. Buying car insurance in Thermopolis is easy if you know what you’re doing. Wyoming drivers just need to learn the proper way to get comparison rates over the internet.
Understand what determines the rate you pay
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.
- Don’t let your coverage lapse – Letting your insurance expire is a guaranteed way to bump up your auto insurance costs. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage can result in a revoked license or a big fine.You may need to file a SR-22 with the Wyoming department of motor vehicles.
- Special features that cut premiums – Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
- Marriage pays dividends – Having a spouse actually saves money on your policy. Having a significant other means you’re more responsible and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- Younger drivers pay higher rates – Older insureds are more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers. Youthful drivers tend to get distracted easily when behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
- Males pay more for insurance – Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Men and women have accidents in similar numbers, but men have costlier accidents. Men also get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 tend to get in the most accidents and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
- Clean credit earns discounts – A driver’s credit rating is a important factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit ratings. If your credit history can use some improvement, you could be paying less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
- What are your deductibles? – Physical damage deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, insures against damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The more money you’re willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
- How many coverages with the same company – Most auto insurance companies will give a discount to people who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
Discounts are available to cut your rates
Auto insurance companies don’t necessarily list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we researched some of the more common and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are throwing money away.
- Driver Safety – Taking a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
- Resident Student – Youth drivers who are attending college and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.
- Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accident claims.
- Anti-theft System – Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
- Pay Upfront and Save – By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Everyone needs different coverages
When it comes to choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Every situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether you might need professional guidance.
- Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
- Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
- Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
- Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
- Does my vehicle need full coverage?
- Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
- What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Wyoming?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
More consumer information in Wyoming
More detailed Wyoming auto insurance information can be read at the Wyoming Insurance Department website. Consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, file complaints about a company, and read industry bulletins.
Other informative sites include Wikipedia and this link where you can get more info about Thermopolis coverage.
The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest
Budget-conscious auto insurance can be bought online as well as from independent agents in Thermopolis, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
We just covered quite a bit of information on how to get a better price on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Smaller companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.