Free Guide to Cutting Costs on Carson City Auto Insurance Online

Finding lower premiums on Carson City auto insurance can be a challenge for beginners to comparison shopping online. There are so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a real hassle to locate the lowest price in Carson City.

It’s a great practice to get comparison quotes at least once a year since insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you got the best rates a year ago other companies may now be cheaper. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re about to learn one of the quickest ways to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

Finding the best rates in Carson City is not that difficult. If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these methods. Nevada drivers just need to learn how to get comparison rates on the web.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Carson City

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what determines base rates enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

Don’t buy coverages you don’t need – There are quite a few add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for personal injury protection, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Bundling policies can get discounts – The majority of insurers give discounts to insureds who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
Rural vs Urban Areas – Being located in a rural area is a positive aspect when it comes to auto insurance. Lower population means a lower chance of having an accident. Drivers who live in large Nevada cities have to deal with more traffic problems and much longer commute distances. More time on the road means more change of being in an accident.
Do men or women drive better? – The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men are in accidents in similar percentages, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations such as reckless driving. Young males are most likely to cause an accident and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
Rate your vehicle for proper use – The more you drive each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Your credit rating is important – Your credit rating is a important factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have lower credit ratings. So if your credit rating can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score.
Bad driving skills means higher rates – Just one speeding ticket may increase your cost twenty percent or more. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.

Don’t overlook these discounts

Companies don’t list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount available, you’re just leaving money on the table.

Memberships – Affiliation with a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break when buying auto insurance.
Bundle and Save – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you will save 10% to 20% off each policy.
Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
Resident Student – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving fewer miles could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Seat Belt Usage – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Discount for Good Grades – A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can pay as much as 50% less than less cautious drivers.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

Are insurance agents a thing of the past?

Certain consumers prefer to visit with an insurance agent. Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you someone to call. The best thing about getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.

Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is sent to companies in Carson City who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier!

Picking a company needs to be determined by more than just the price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Nevada?
If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
Can glass repairs be made at your home?
What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
Can they give you a list of client referrals?
Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?

What type of Carson City insurance agency is right for you?

When researching a good Carson City insurance agent, there are a couple of different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Carson City are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. While both can do a good job, but it’s worth learning how they are different because it can influence the selection process.

Agency Captives

Captive agents can only place business with one company such as Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they have to upsell other benefits. Captives are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers often choose to use a captive agent mainly due to high brand loyalty and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages. compare rates in Carson City NV

Listed below are captive insurance agencies in Carson City who may provide you with comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 1102 N Curry St – Carson City, NV 89703 – (775) 885-0100
American Family Insurance – 1621 Us Highway 50 E # E – Carson City, NV 89701 – (775) 885-8110
Farmers Insurance Group – – Carson City, NV 89701 – (775) 219-9703
State Farm Insurance – 1940 Us Highway 50 E – Carson City, NV 89701 – (775) 882-3599

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agencies are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part.

When comparing rates, we recommend you include price quotes from at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.Many can place coverage with different regional companies which can save you money.

Listed below is a short list of independent agents in Carson City that can give you price quotes.

Insurance Works – 625 Fairview Dr # 129 – Carson City, NV 89701 – (775) 885-9486
Nevada Insurance Co – 502 E Long St – Carson City, NV 89706 – (775) 883-6666

To view a full list of insurance agents in Carson City, visit this site.

After receiving good answers to all your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, most likely you have located an insurance agency that can adequately provide auto insurance.

Beware of misleading auto insurance ads

Nevada drivers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings by companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all seem to make an identical promise that you’ll save big after switching to them.

But how can every company say the same thing?

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A propective insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who are not a match for the “perfect” profile must pay higher premiums which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state “customers that switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. That’s why insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why drivers must compare many company’s rates. It’s just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing coverage, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

For instance, these questions could help you determine if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

Who is covered by my policy?
Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
At what point should I drop full coverage?
Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?

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 an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Additional detailed information is available at the Nevada Division of Insurance website. Visitors are able to download brochures, report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, and read industry bulletins.

One last thing about your coverage

Consumers leave their current company for many reasons like delays in responding to claim requests, policy non-renewal, poor customer service and even not issuing a premium refund. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a great new company can be pretty painless.

Affordable auto insurance can be sourced from both online companies and with local Carson City insurance agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, don’t be tempted to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.