Top 10 Ways You Can Buy Car Insurance for Less in Flandreau

Nobody looks forward to paying for car insurance, in particular when the price is too high. Numerous car insurance companies battle to insure your vehicles, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the absolute best price available.

It’s a good idea to do rate comparisons before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance rates tend to go up over time. Even if you got the lowest rates six months ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So just ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the fastest way to save on car insurance.

How much can you save with these ten discounts?

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you may find discounts to help bring down the price. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for before being credited. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Club Memberships – Belonging to a qualifying organization may earn a discount on your policy.
• Early Switch Discount – A few companies offer discounts for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
• Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
• Auto/Home Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
• Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Good Student Discount – A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
• Employee of Federal Government – Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% with a few car insurance companies.
• Accident Waiver – Some insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before raising your premiums so long as you haven’t had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
• New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.

Drivers should understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Even though it may seem like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way. But all discounts will cut the cost of coverage.

But don’t I need an insurance agent?

Some consumers just want to buy from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you someone to call. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain lower rates but also keep your business local. Buying from local insurance agencies is definitely important in Flandreau.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your coverage information is transmitted to agents in your area who will battle for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy!

Captive and independent Flandreau car insurance agents

When researching a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are either captive or independent. While both can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning how they are different because it can impact the type of agent you choose

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies. When shopping rates, we recommend you include price quotes from several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison.

The following is a short list of independent insurance agents in Flandreau that are able to give price quotes.

First Flandreau Insurance – 120 E 2nd Ave – Flandreau, SD 57028 – (605) 997-3729
Boysen Insurance Svc – 119 E 2nd Ave – Flandreau, SD 57028 – (605) 997-5253

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents are contracted to one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are trained well on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage.

The following are Flandreau captive agents who can help you get rate quotes.

Farmers Insurance Group – 120 E 2nd Ave – Flandreau, SD 57028 – (605) 997-3729

For a complete listing of car insurance agents in Flandreau, view this link.

Deciding on an insurance agent requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in South Dakota?
• How often do they review policy coverages?
• How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
• Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
• Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
• Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?

After receiving positive feedback to all your questions and an affordable coverage quote, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that is a good match to properly insure your vehicles.

Can switching companies really save?

South Dakota consumers constantly see and hear ads for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the ads make an identical promise of big savings if you switch your policy.

How does each company make almost identical claims?

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer might be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who are not a match for these standards will be quoted a more expensive rate and this can result in business not being written. The ads state “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That’s why insurance companies can claim big savings.

This emphasizes why it’s extremely important to get as many quotes as possible. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

To learn even more about car insurance

Additional car insurance information is located on the website for the South Dakota Division of Insurance found here. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, get help finding coverage, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and read state legal mandates and laws.

The coverage is in the details

Having a good grasp of a car insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. These are typical coverage types found on most car insurance policies.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This provides protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/25 in South Dakota), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently these limits are set the same as your liablity limits.

Comprehensive insurance – This will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like damage from flooding, hail damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and hitting a bird. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Collision – Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for claims like damaging your car on a curb, colliding with a tree and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for bills for ambulance fees, EMT expenses, funeral costs and dental work. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Liability insurance – This coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. It protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 that means you have a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use a combined limit which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage protects against things such as attorney fees, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage, court costs and emergency aid. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. South Dakota requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should consider buying more coverage.

A little work can save a LOT of money

Low-cost car insurance can be bought both online and with local Flandreau insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer online quoting and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. Too many times, drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.