Compare Auto Insurance Rates and Save

Kansas City drivers don’t have to overpay for auto insurance even though most do. A recent study showed that the average car insurance consumer overpays by an average of $865 a year just because they don’t take the time to shop around.

If you want to save money on KC car insurance, the four steps below can help you understand how to effectively compare rates.

• First, get a basic knowledge of what coverages are included in your policy and the measures you can take to prevent expensive coverage. Many policy risk factors that cause rate increases like traffic violations and a bad credit rating can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. This article gives the details to help prevent costly coverage and get additional discounts.
• Second, request price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can quote prices for a wide range of insurance providers.
• Third, compare the price quotes to your current policy to see if cheaper coverage is available. If you find a lower rate and buy the policy, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
• Fourth, provide notification to your current agent or company to cancel your current policy and submit the application along with any required down payment for your new coverage. Once coverage is bound, keep the new proof of insurance paperwork in your glove compartment.

A valuable tip to remember is to use similar deductibles and liability limits on every quote and to quote with as many companies as possible. Doing this helps ensure a fair price comparison and a complete selection of prices.

Driving violations and accidents

The illustration below illustrates how traffic citations and fender-benders influence insurance prices for each different age category. The information is based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.

Whether you pay high or low rates for car insurance depends on many different factors, but the average policy in Kansas City is roughly $1,070 for an annual policy. Other states average approximately $1,224, so Kansas City residents pay about $150 less each year than drivers who live in other states. That’s not too bad, but you can still save money by shopping around.

Auto insurance rates are determined by many variables, and one of the primary components is the type of car or truck you own. The next table shows policy rates for some of the more popular vehicles insured in Kansas City.

Above prices assume married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Missouri minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Table data does not factor in specific zip code location which can impact auto insurance rates considerably.

Cost estimates assume married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Missouri minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Rates do not factor in garaging location in Kansas City which can lower or raise premiums noticeably.

Data based on married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Missouri minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Rate quotes do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can change coverage prices significantly.

Why you need insurance for your vehicle

Despite the potentially high cost of car insurance, car insurance may be mandatory for several reasons.

First, just about all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a minimum amount of liability protection in order to license the vehicle. In Missouri these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.

Second, if you took out a loan on your vehicle, almost every bank will require you to have comprehensive coverage to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank may insure your vehicle for a much higher rate and require you to fork over for the expensive policy.

Third, insurance protects both your assets and your vehicle. It will also provide coverage for all forms of medical expenses that are the result of an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if you are sued as the result of your driving. If you have damage to your vehicle as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.