Top 6 Ways You Can Buy Auto Insurance for Less in Cody

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can empty your savings account and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparing price quotes is a smart way to cut your insurance bill.

Drivers have so many insurance companies to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to find the best rates.

Shopping for affordable coverage in Cody is not that difficult. Just about every vehicle owner who carries auto insurance will be able to find better rates. But Wyoming consumers should learn the way insurance companies market insurance on the web and apply this information to your search.

How to Lower Your Auto Insurance Cost in Cody, WY

The are a couple different ways to get quotes from different in Cody, WYinsurance companies. One of the best ways to find the cheapest insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

1. The most efficient way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This type of form prevents you from having to do repetitive form entry for every auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form will get you price quotes from several companies.
2. A different way to shop for auto insurance online consists of visiting the website for every company you want to comare to complete a price quote. For instance, let’s say you want to compare USAA, Liberty Mutual and Allstate. To find out each rate you need to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Cody, click here.
3. The most time-consuming way to compare rates is driving around to and from local Cody insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you require the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. It is possible to comparison shop your insurance online and still use a local agent and we’ll talk about that later.

It’s up to you which method you use, but make sure you use the exact same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote. If each company quotes unequal deductibles or liability limits you can’t possibly make a fair comparison in Cody. Quoting even small variations in coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparison shopping, comparing more company’s prices will enable you to find the best price.

These six discounts can slash auto insurance rates

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Most are applied at the time you complete a quote, but less common discounts must be specially asked for before being credited.

• Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts up to 30%.
• Good Students Pay Less – Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
• Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.
• Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can pay as much as 50% less than their less cautious counterparts.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will cut your overall premium however.

To choose insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Cody, click this link.

Price shop online but buy from a local Cody agent

A small number of people would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is OK! One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find lower rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from local insurance agencies is definitely important in Cody.

Once you complete this simple form, your information gets sent to insurance agents in Cody who will compete for your business. You don’t have to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to your email. You can find better rates AND an agent nearby.

Do you need an independent or captive car insurance agent?

When researching a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two different agency structures that you can select. Insurance agencies in Cody are categorized either captive or independent.

Independent Insurance Agents

These agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you get quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Cody who can help you get price quote information.

Marci J Hicks Insurance Inc – 1808 Sheridan Ave – Cody, WY 82414 – (307) 527-7176
HBI Insurance Svc Inc – 2220 Big Horn Ave – Cody, WY 82414 – (307) 527-6929

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents can only place business with one company and some examples include State Farm or Allstate. These agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. They are very knowledgeable on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.

The following is a short list of captive agents in Cody that can give you rate quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 1139 Rumsey Ave – Cody, WY 82414 – (307) 527-6447
State Farm Insurance – 1708 Stampede Ave # A – Cody, WY 82414 – (307) 587-4555
Farmers Insurance Group – 1725 Sheridan Ave – Cody, WY 82414 – (307) 587-2808
Farm Bureau Insurance – 1308 Rumsey Ave – Cody, WY 82414 – (307) 587-9669

For a complete listing of captive insurance agents in Cody, please click here.

Deciding on an insurance agency requires more thought than just a cheap price. Some important questions to ask are:

• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
• Which company do they place the most coverage with?
• How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
• Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
• Who is covered by the car insurance policy?

Once you have reasonable responses to all your questions and an affordable coverage quote, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that can insure your vehicles. But keep in mind consumers can cancel a policy whenever you wish so don’t think that you’re stuck with your new company with no way to switch.

Much more information about auto insurance in Wyoming can be found on the website for the Wyoming Insurance Department through this link. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, read consumer alerts, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Educate yourself about auto insurance coverages

Understanding the coverages of auto insurance helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Auto collision coverage

This will pay to fix damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision can pay for things such as crashing into a building, hitting a mailbox, sideswiping another vehicle, scraping a guard rail and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/100/15), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Most of the time these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like vandalism, falling objects, theft, a broken windshield and rock chips in glass. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Liability insurance

This can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people. Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see liability limits of 100/300/100 which means a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability can pay for things such as legal defense fees, medical expenses and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but buy higher limits if possible. Wyoming requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/100,000/15,000 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for short-term medical expenses such as dental work, prosthetic devices, hospital visits and pain medications. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Final considerations

The cheapest auto insurance can be bought online as well as from independent agents in Cody, so you should compare both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

You just learned a lot of ways to compare auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from an unexpected company. Regional companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive or GEICO.

While you’re price shopping online, it’s not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, someone dropped full coverage to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.