It takes a little time, but the best way to get more affordable car insurance rates is to begin comparing prices regularly from insurance carriers who can sell car insurance in Kansas City.
First, gain an understanding of individual coverages and the steps you can take to keep rates down. Many things that result in higher prices such as traffic violations, accidents, and a less-than-favorable credit history can be amended by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. Later in this article we will cover tips to help prevent costly coverage and find overlooked discounts.
Second, compare price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agencies can provide price quotes from multiple sources.
Third, compare the quotes to the price on your current policy to determine if you can save on TrailBlazer insurance in Kansas City. If you find a lower rate quote and change companies, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
Fourth, give notification to your current company of your intent to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application for your new policy. When you receive it, put the new proof of insurance certificate with the vehicle registration.
The most important part of this process is to compare the same level of coverage on every quote request and to quote with all possible companies. Doing this helps ensure a fair price comparison and a good representation of prices.
Statistics show that most drivers have stayed with the same insurance company for more than four years, and practically 40% of insurance customers have never quoted rates to find cheap coverage. Missouri drivers could save an average of $300 each year by just comparing rate quotes, but most just don’t grasp the big savings they would realize if they just switched companies.
Comparison shopping for the most affordable protection in Kansas City is not as time-consuming as you think. If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you can use these tips to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Smart buyers only need an understanding of the tricks to buy auto insurance on the web.
Car insurance providers offering competitive rates in Missouri
The companies shown below are ready to provide price comparisons in Kansas City, MO. To locate cheaper auto insurance in MO, we suggest you click on several of them to find the lowest car insurance rates.
Discounts can help lower premiums on Chevy TrailBlazer insurance in Kansas City
Car insurance can cost a lot, but you might already qualify for some discounts to help offset the cost. Some trigger automatically at the time you complete a quote, but a few must be requested specifically before being credited. If you do not check that you are getting every discount available, you could be saving more on your car insurance.
- Online Discount – A handful of companies will give you a small discount shop Kansas City car insurance on the web.
- Theft Deterrent – Cars and trucks that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and will qualify for a discount on a Kansas City car insurance quote.
- Active Service Discounts – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
- Senior Citizen Rates – Seniors are able to get better car insurance rates.
- Early Payment Discounts – By making one initial payment rather than paying in monthly installments you can avoid monthly service charges.
- Life Insurance Discount – Larger car insurance companies have a lower price if you buy some life insurance too.
- Claim Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories get the best car insurance rates as opposed to frequent claim filers.
- Kansas City Homeowners Pay Less – Just owning your own home may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
As a sidenote, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Even though it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy. Any qualifying discounts should help reduce the cost of your policy.
A few companies that may offer some of the discounts shown above possibly include:
It’s a good idea to ask every insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts listed above may not be available in Kansas City. For a list of providers who offer cheap Chevy TrailBlazer insurance quotes in Missouri, click here.
Local neighborhood insurance agents
Some consumers just prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that can be a smart move Professional agents will help you protect your assets and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is that you can find cheap car insurance quotes and still have an agent to talk to. Putting coverage with local insurance agents is especially important in Kansas City.
After filling out this short form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to insurance agents in Kansas City that can provide free Kansas City car insurance quotes for your car insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to search for an agent since rate quotes are delivered immediately to you. If you need to get a comparison quote from a specific company, feel free to search and find their rate quote page and submit a quote form there.
If you are wanting to find a reliable insurance agency, you should know the different types of agencies and how they are slightly different. Kansas City agents can either be independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Both types of agents can do a good job, but it’s worth learning why they differ because it may have an impact on which type of agent you select.
Independent Agents
These agents are not limited to a single company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, your policy is moved internally which is easy for the insured.
If you are comparing rate quotes, you definitely need to contact several independent agencies so that you can do a thorough price comparison.
The following is a list of independent insurance agents in Kansas City who may be able to give you free car insurance quotes.
Traders Insurance Co
9300 Troost Ave – Kansas City, MO 64131 – (816) 333-5030 – View Map
Nestel Insurance Agency
9233 Ward Pkwy #124 – Kansas City, MO 64114 – (816) 361-6442 – View Map
Chris Jones Insurance Agency
435 Nichols Rd #200 Kansas City, MO 64112 – Kansas City, MO 64112 – (816) 479-0212 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
Agents that choose to be exclusive can only provide pricing for a single company and some examples include American Family, State Farm, and AAA. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.
The following are Kansas City exclusive insurance agencies who can help you get comparison quotes.
American Family Insurance – Gary Woods Agency Inc.
7211 NW 83 St Ste 140 – Kansas City, MO 64152 – (816) 587-8033 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: Donita Hunt
7501 NW Tiffany Springs Pkwy – Kansas City, MO 64153 – (816) 587-4181 – View Map
State Farm: Bret Ohlhausen
8549 N Church Rd – Kansas City, MO 64157 – (816) 781-4960 – View Map
Picking the best insurance agency requires you to look at more than just a cheap price quote. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Kansas City?
- How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
- Do they get paid more for recommending certain coverages?
- Can you choose the body shop in case repairs are needed?
Ratings for Missouri auto insurance companies
Picking a highly-rated company can be challenging considering how many choices drivers have in Kansas City. The ranking information in the next section could help you pick which insurers you want to consider shopping your coverage with.
Top 10 Kansas City Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- USAA – 92%
- American Family – 88%
- State Farm – 88%
- Nationwide – 88%
- 21st Century – 88%
- AAA Insurance – 87%
- Liberty Mutual – 87%
- Farmers Insurance – 87%
- The Hartford – 87%
- Progressive – 87%
Top 10 Kansas City Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- Mercury Insurance
- Nationwide
- State Farm
- Safeco Insurance
- American Family
- Titan Insurance
- Travelers
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- Allstate
What car insurance coverages do you need?
Learning about specific coverages of your car insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. These are typical coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Auto collision coverage
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers things like sideswiping another vehicle, scraping a guard rail and hitting a parking meter. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible on your TrailBlazer to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive auto coverage
This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like vandalism, falling objects, theft, a broken windshield and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many Missouri drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 25/50/10), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are set the same as your liability limits.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for expenses for things like nursing services, hospital visits and ambulance fees. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability insurance
Liability coverage provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property by causing an accident. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see values of 25/50/10 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of coverage for damaged property. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for things like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, bail bonds, medical expenses and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. Missouri state law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/10 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
The chart below shows why buying minimum limits may not be enough coverage.
Compare but don’t skimp
As you restructure your insurance plan, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Discount Chevy TrailBlazer insurance in Kansas City is attainable on the web and with local Kansas City insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who do not offer rate quotes online and many times these regional carriers work with local independent agents.
More information
- New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for First-time Drivers in Kansas City? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Kansas City Car Insurance for Ride Shares? (FAQ)
- How Much are Kansas City Car Insurance Quotes for Veterans? (FAQ)
- How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
- How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Prom Night Tips for Teen Drivers (State Farm)