Scraping up a payment for overpriced Cadillac STS-V insurance can drain your personal savings and force you to prioritize other expenses. Doing a price comparison is a great way to slash your bill and have more diposable income. Big companies like State Farm, Farmers Insurance, GEICO and Allstate persitently shower you with fancy advertisements and it is difficult to ignore the flying pigs and cute green geckos and do the work needed to find the best deal.
If you have a policy now or are just looking to switch companies, you can follow these tips to get lower rates while maximizing coverage. Finding the best rates is not that difficult. Drivers just need to understand the tricks to compare company rates online.
Where Can I Get Cheap Car Insurance?
Cutting your car insurance rates is surprisingly easy. You just have to spend a few minutes on the computer to compare quotes online with multiple companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in several different ways.
- One of the simplest ways to get quotes is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This type of form prevents you from having to do separate quotes to each individual car insurance company. Just one form will get you rate comparisons instantly.
- Another way to analyze rates is to take the time to go to each company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, we’ll assume you want comparison quotes from Nationwide, Allstate and Travelers. You would have to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to insurance companies in your area, click here.
- The most time-consuming method to compare rates is to drive around to different agent offices. Buying insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you prefer the professional guidance of a licensed agent. You can, however, price shop online and still use a local agent and you’ll learn how to do that later.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but be sure to compare identical coverage information with each company. If you compare different limits and deductibles on each one it’s impossible to make an equal comparison.
How much can you save with discounts?
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you may find discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but some must be requested specifically prior to getting the savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
- Club Memberships – Affiliation with a qualifying organization may earn a discount on your policy on STS-V coverage.
- Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
- Sign Online – Certain companies give back up to $50 simply for signing on their website.
- No Charge for an Accident – A few companies permit an accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount will help reduce your premiums.
Online quotes with a local insurance agent
Certain consumers would rather buy from a local agent. Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates but also keep your business local. Buying from local agencies is especially important in smaller rural communities.
To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, the coverage information is sent to local insurance agents who will compete for your business. You never need to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. How cool is that?!
Captive and independent car insurance agents
When researching an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies to choose from. Agencies can either be captive or independent. While both can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning the differences since it can impact the type of agent you choose
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to contact several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.
Agency Captives
Captive agencies work for only one company and examples are AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.
For a complete listing of agents, click here.
Picking a car insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- How long has their agency been in business?
Once you have satisfactory answers to these questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that is a good match to service your policy.
Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage
When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- When would I need rental car insurance?
- When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
- Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
- Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
- Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.
Cadillac STS-V insurance premiums are calculated by many factors
Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining car insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.
- Being married can save on car insurance – Being married actually saves money on your car insurance policy. Having a spouse means you’re more mature and responsible and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- Poor credit can mean higher rates – A driver’s credit rating is a large factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. Consumers who have high credit scores tend to be less risk to insure than those with lower credit ratings. So if your credit can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your Cadillac STS-V by improving your credit score.
- Bad driving skills means higher rates – Your driving citation history impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Just one citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who have severe citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
- Proper usage rating affects rates – The more you drive every year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Make sure your car insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage, because it can save money. Incorrect usage on your STS-V can cost quite a bit.
- Special features that cut premiums – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart car theft.
- Always keep insurance in force – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a fast way to trigger a rate increase. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance can result in a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
Are you falling for claims of savings?
Consumers can’t ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. All the companies make an identical promise about savings if you move to their company.
How does each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.
Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.
Potential insureds who don’t meet the “perfect” profile will be charged higher prices which leads to business not being written. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That’s why companies can state the savings.
That is why it is so important to get quotes from several different companies. It’s just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.
Keep this in mind
Affordable Cadillac STS-V insurance is possible both online in addition to many insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
When you buy insurance online, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced collision coverage and learned later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.
