Tightwads Guide to Saving on Oxford, MS Car Insurance

Overpriced car insurance can dwindle your bank account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparing price quotes is a great way to cut your insurance bill. Since consumers have many insurance companies to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to locate the cheapest insurance company.

This information will tell you the best way to quote coverages and some money-saving tips. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to save some money using this strategy. Mississippi drivers only need to know the most efficient way to shop online.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you may find discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some trigger automatically at the time you complete a quote, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for before you get the savings. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

• Distant Student – Youth drivers who live away from home without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.
• Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class in high school.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
• Organization Discounts – Participating in a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on car insurance.
• Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
• Senior Citizens – Older drivers may receive reduced rates.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings up to 30%.
• Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than their less cautious counterparts.
• Own a Home – Owning a home in Oxford may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free car insurance policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

For a list of insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in Mississippi, click here to view.

Learn How to Lower your Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in lower car insurance prices.

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

• Battle of the sexes – Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn’t mean women are BETTER drivers than men. They both have accidents in similar percentages, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI.
• Being married is a good thing – Being married can get you a discount on car insurance. Marriage translates into being more responsible and it’s statistically proven that being married results in fewer claims.
• Type of vehicle determines base rates – The performance of the vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in your rates. Economy passenger vehicles usually have the lowest rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
• Extra coverages can waste money – There are a lot of additional coverages that you can buy on your car insurance policy. Things like personal injury protection, towing coverage and motor club memberships are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if you don’t need them remove them from your policy.
• Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. The safest vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries translates into savings for insurance companies passed on to you as lower rates.
• Liability coverage protects you – Your policy’s liability coverage will protect you when you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. It provides for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.

Which insurance is the “right” coverage?

When it comes to buying coverage, there is no cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if your situation would benefit from professional advice.

• Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
• Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Oxford?
• Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
• Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
• Should I buy only the required Mississippi minimum liability coverage?
• Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
• How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
• Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
• I don’t drive much so do I pay less?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

But I want to work with a local agent

Some consumers would rather get advice from a local agent and that is OK! Educated insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is you can get the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for small agencies is important particularly in Oxford.

After filling out this short form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to insurance agents in Oxford who will compete for your coverage. You won’t need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier!

Below are agents in Oxford that can give you comparison quotes.

Tackett Agency Inc – 2653 W Oxford Loop, Oxford, MS 38655 – (662) 281-8861
Metropolitan Insurance – 401 Highway 6 W, Oxford, MS 38655 – (662) 236-2766
State Farm Insurance – 1214 Jefferson Ave, Oxford, MS 38655 – (662) 236-1331
Shelter Insurance – 1295 N Lamar Blvd # C, Oxford, MS 38655 – (662) 234-8118
Farm Bureau Insurance – 2604 W Oxford Loop, Oxford, MS 38655 – (662) 234-6232

Picking an insurer shouldn’t rely on just a low price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

• How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
• Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
• Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
• If you have an accident, will your rates go up?

After receiving answers to your satisfaction to these questions and a good coverage price, you’ve probably found an insurer that can provide car insurance coverage.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Mississippi consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. All the ads say the same thing that you can save after switching to their company.

How can each company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as between 25 and 40, owns a home, and has excellent credit. Any driver who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when switching.

Drivers who don’t meet this ideal profile must pay a more expensive rate and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. That’s the way insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

This illustrates why it is so important to get as many comparisons as possible. Because you never know which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Additional car insurance information is available on the website for the Mississippi Insurance Department located here. Mississippi consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, read consumer alerts, learn about insurance regulations, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

The following information may also be useful.

• Compare Oxford Car Insurance for Less Money With These Proven Methods

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

In this article, we covered a lot of ways to reduce car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a lesser-known regional company. Smaller companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like State Farm and Allstate.

When you buy insurance online, make sure you don’t skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheaper car insurance is attainable from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Oxford agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.