Top 8 Tricks to Save on Auto Insurance in Eastpointe

Are you a victim of overpriced auto insurance? Trust us when we tell you you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. Big companies like GEICO, Progressive and Allstate all promote huge savings with TV and radio ads and it is challenging if not impossible to separate fact from fiction and do the work needed to find the best deal.

Consumers need to compare rates yearly since rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates a few years ago there may be better deals available now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re about to find out one of the easiest ways to buy cheaper auto insurance.

If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you can learn to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Finding affordable coverage in Eastpointe is quite easy. Michigan drivers just need to know the most effective way to compare rates online.

Comparison of Auto Insurance in Eastpointe, MI

Most companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive quote prices for coverage online. Getting quotes doesn’t take a lot of time as you simply type in your coverage information into a form. When the form is submitted, their rating system makes automated requests for your driving record and credit report and gives you a price quote based on many factors. This simplifies rate comparisons, but having to visit several different sites and enter the same data into a form gets old quite quickly. But it’s very important to do this if you want to find the lowest possible prices on auto insurance.

A more efficient way to locate the lowest prices makes use of a single form that obtains quotes from more than one company. This type of form saves time, eliminates repetitive work, and makes online shopping a lot less work. Immediately after you send the form, it is rated and you can choose your choice of the resulting price quotes.

If you find a better price you can click and sign and buy the policy. It can be completed in less than 10 minutes and you’ll know if lower rates are available.

In order to use this form to compare rates, click here to open in new window and begin entering your coverage information. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you copy coverages and limits exactly as shown on your declarations page. This ensures you will receive an apples-to-apples comparison using the same coverage and limits.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there are discounts available that you may not know about. A few discounts will automatically apply at quote time, but a few must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Sign Online – Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy online.
• Multiple Vehicles – Buying coverage for multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents pay less compared to bad drivers.
• Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles with factory air bags can get savings up to 30%.
• Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
• College Student – Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
• Safety Course Discount – Taking a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if you qualify.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way. But any discount will bring down the cost of coverage.

What if I want to buy from a local Eastpointe agent?

Some consumers prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. Good agents can help determine the best coverages and help file insurance claims. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you may find the best rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local insurance agencies is definitely important in Eastpointe.

Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will compete for your insurance coverage. There is no need to drive around since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy!

Eastpointe car insurance agents come in two flavors

When searching for a good Eastpointe insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Eastpointe are either captive or independent. Both write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning the difference between them since it can impact your selection of an agent.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency. When comparing rates, we recommend you include price quotes from multiple independent agents for the best price selection.

Below is a short list of independent agencies in Eastpointe willing to provide price quotes.

Talitha Perry Agency – 22027 Kelly Rd – Eastpointe, MI 48021 – (586) 774-0400
Nationwide Insurance – 15820 E 9 Mile Rd – Eastpointe, MI 48021 – (586) 771-1503
Leidecker Agency Inc – 18400 E 9 Mile Rd – Eastpointe, MI 48021 – (586) 777-9334

Agency Captives

These agents write business for a single company and examples are AAA, Allstate and State Farm. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so keep that in mind. Captives are trained well on the products they sell which can be an advantage.

Below is a list of captive insurance agents in Eastpointe willing to provide price quote information.

Farmers Insurance Group – 22109 Gratiot Ave – Eastpointe, MI 48021 – (586) 443-5408
Allstate Insurance – 18800 E 9 Mile Rd – Eastpointe, MI 48021 – (586) 778-1144
State Farm Insurance – 18530 E 9 Mile Rd – Eastpointe, MI 48021 – (586) 777-8855

For a complete listing of Eastpointe captive agencies, simply jump to this page.

Picking an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. These questions are important to ask:

• Do they assist clients in filing claims?
• Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
• If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Who are their largest clients?
• Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?

Once you have received answers to your satisfaction to all your questions and a good coverage price, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that will service your policy.

Do drivers who switch really save?

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance by companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. All the companies make an identical promise that you can save if you move to them.

But how can every company make the same claim?

Different companies can use profiling for the right customer that is profitable for them. An example of a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and most likely will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Drivers who do not match this ideal profile will be charged higher premiums and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.

That is why it’s extremely important to get a wide range of price quotes. You cannot predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Auto insurance coverage considerations

Learning about specific coverages of your policy helps when choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find the usual coverages available from auto insurance companies.

Collision coverages – Collision coverage covers damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for claims like driving through your garage door, sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with another moving vehicle, crashing into a building and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.

Due to the fact that many Michigan drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (Michigan limits are 20/40/10), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.

Comprehensive auto coverage – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as fire damage, vandalism, hitting a bird, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and falling objects. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills for surgery, prosthetic devices, pain medications and nursing services. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto liability insurance – Liability insurance provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property by causing an accident. It protects you from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 100/300/100 which means a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Alternatively, you may have a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability insurance covers claims such as pain and suffering, court costs and medical services. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Michigan requires drivers to carry at least 20,000/40,000/10,000 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.

A little work can save a LOT of money

Discount auto insurance can be found both online and with local Eastpointe insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

In this article, we presented quite a bit of information on how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even discover the best price on auto insurance is with a small local company. Some small companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.

Additional resources for Michigan consumers

More information is located on the website for the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation. Click here for link. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, learn about specific coverages, and read consumer alerts.