Are Your Mini Cooper Auto Insurance Rates Draining Your Savings in Nevada?

Tired of not being able to afford to buy car insurance? You are no different than many other Nevada drivers.

Online insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with catchy ads and it is difficult to not get sucked in by the cute commercials and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It is always a good idea to price shop coverage at least once a year because rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Even if you got the best deal on Cooper coverage two years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. You can find a lot of wrong information about auto insurance online, so I’m going to show you some great ways to save money.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using this information. Finding the best rates is not rocket science. Although Nevada drivers do need to learn how big insurance companies sell online and use this information to your advantage.

Companies offer discounts so take them!

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but a few must be requested specifically prior to getting the savings.

Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you may save 10% to 20% off each policy.
Clubs and Organizations – Participating in a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy on Cooper coverage.
College Student – Kids in college who are attending college without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.
Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% on Cooper coverage with certain companies.
No Charge for an Accident – Certain companies will forgive one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
Early Signing – Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
Driver Safety – Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more if your company offers it.

It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But any discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Nevada, click here.

But buying car insurance online seems impersonal

Some consumers would rather buy from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you can get the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for local businesses is important especially in small towns and cities.

Once you complete this short form, the quote information is emailed to local insurance agents who will compete for your coverage. You don’t have to leave your computer since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How cool is that?! You can find better rates AND an agent nearby.

Two types of Nevada insurance agents

If you’re trying to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are a couple of types of agencies from which to choose. Agencies in Nevada are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive). Nevada auto insurance

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies 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, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Captive Agents

Captive agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so always compare other rates. They are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.

To view a full list of insurance agencies in Nevada, visit this page.

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

How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
Is assistance available after office hours?
Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?

Once you have received satisfactory answers and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.

Drivers who switch save $385 a year? Really?

State Farm, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads on television and other media. All the companies make the same claim about savings if you change your policy. How can each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Drivers who don’t measure up to this ideal profile will have to pay higher rates and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That’s the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, drivers must compare many company’s rates. You cannot predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

To learn more about auto insurance in Nevada

Additional information is located on the website for the Nevada Division of Insurance. Click here for link. Visitors are able to get help finding coverage, find a variety of consumer forms, and discover disciplinary actions.

The following information may also be useful.

Smart shoppers get results

As you prepare to switch companies, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate.

Lower-priced Mini Cooper insurance is attainable both online as well as from independent agents in Nevada, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

You just learned quite a bit of information on how to lower your Mini Cooper insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a lesser-known regional company. These smaller insurers often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.