Truthfully, the best way to find lower priced Chevy Spark insurance in Detroit is to regularly compare prices from providers in Michigan.
- First, spend a few minutes and learn about auto insurance and the steps you can take to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that cause high rates like high-risk driving behaviors and an imperfect credit history can be amended by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
- Second, compare rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide price quotes for many different companies.
- Third, compare the quotes to your current policy premium to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate quote and decide to switch, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
- Fourth, give proper notification to your current agent or company to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit a completed application and payment to the newly selected company. Be sure to place the new proof of insurance paperwork with your registration paperwork.
The most important part of shopping around is that you use the same amount of coverage on each quote request and and to get price quotes from as many different companies as possible. This guarantees a level playing field and a good representation of prices.
It’s hard to fathom, but a large majority of consumers renewed their policy with the same company for four years or more, and almost half have never shopped around. Most drivers in the U.S. could save an average of almost $859 each year, but they don’t know the amount of savings they would get if they switched to a more affordable policy.
Buying the cheapest insurance in Detroit seems hard but is not really that difficult. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to lower your rates using the tips covered below. But Michigan drivers must comprehend the way insurance companies determine how much to charge and apply this information to your search.
Insurance policy discounts you can’t miss
Car insurance can cost a lot, but there are discounts available that many consumers don’t even know exist. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of purchase, but some must be asked for before they will apply.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having an actively deployed family member could qualify you for better insurance rates.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Purchasing coverage when you have multiple cars with the same company qualifies for this discount.
- Discounts for Federal Employees – Federal government employees could qualify for a slight premium decrease but check with your company.
- Life Insurance – Larger insurance companies have lower premium rates if you buy life insurance.
- Detroit Homeowners Discount – Being a homeowner can get you a discount because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
- 55 and Retired – Older drivers can get reduced rates.
- Passive Restraints – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of 25 to 30%.
- Defensive Driver – Participating in a driver safety class could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
- Discounts for Good Drivers – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more than drivers with accidents.
- Discount for Good Grades – Excelling in school could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
Drivers should understand that most discounts do not apply to the whole policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy. Any amount of discount will positively reduce your policy cost.
The best insurance companies and their offered discounts can be read below.
- Travelers discounts include multi-policy, IntelliDrive, student away at school, good student, continuous insurance, and payment discounts.
- 21st Century offers discounts including anti-lock brakes, automatic seat belts, good student, 55 and older, defensive driver, theft prevention, and air bags.
- State Farm may include discounts for driver’s education, Drive Safe & Save, accident-free, good student, safe vehicle, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and passive restraint.
- GEICO may offer discounts for federal employee, anti-theft, military active duty, seat belt use, daytime running lights, good student, and multi-policy.
- SAFECO may have discounts that include bundle discounts, drive less, teen safety rewards, anti-theft, teen safe driver, and multi-car.
- AAA offers premium reductions for AAA membership discount, multi-car, good student, multi-policy, and good driver.
When quoting, ask each company or agent which discounts you qualify for. All car insurance discounts may not be available in your area.
It’s important to know that comparing more prices helps improve the odds of finding more affordable insurance.
The auto insurance companies shown below have been selected to offer quotes in Detroit, MI. In order to find the cheapest auto insurance in MI, we suggest you click on several of them to get the best price comparison.
You are unique and your auto insurance should be too
When it comes to choosing insurance from an agent or online, there really isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of policy. You are unique.
For example, these questions can help discover whether your personal situation might need an agent’s assistance.
- What is UM/UIM insurance?
- Do I need special coverage while pulling a rented trailer?
- Is my Chevy Spark covered for smoke damage?
- Which companies will insure me after a DUI?
- Am I covered if I back into my garage door?
- How can I force my company to pay a claim?
- Do I need rental car coverage?
- What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
- Am I covered if I break a side mirror?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form.
Exclusive or independent auto insurance agents
Some people still like to buy from a licensed agent and that is not a bad decision An additional benefit of getting free rate quotes online is you can get cheaper prices and still choose a local agent.
Upon completion of this simple form, the quote information is submitted to companies in Detroit who can give free rate quotes for your coverage. You won’t need to find an agent on your own since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It’s the lowest rates without having to waste a lot of time. If for some reason you want to quote rates from a specific company, don’t hesitate to navigate to their website and submit a quote form there.
Finding the right insurer requires you to look at more than just the quoted price. You should also get answers to these questions.
- How long has their agency been in business in Detroit?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Are they actively involved in the community?
- Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
- Can you choose the body shop in case repairs are needed?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
Upon receiving positive responses to any questions you have as well as an affordable premium quote, you may have just found an provider that meets the requirements to service your policy.
Why you need insurance for your vehicle
Even though Detroit Spark insurance rates can get expensive, insurance may not be optional for several reasons.
- The majority of states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific level of liability insurance if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In Michigan these limits are 20/40/10 which means you must have $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $40,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a loan on your Chevy, more than likely the lender will have a requirement that you buy full coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank will be required to insure your Chevy at an extremely high rate and require you to fork over a much higher amount than you were paying before.
- Insurance safeguards not only your vehicle but also your financial assets. It will also reimburse you for medical expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability coverage will also pay for a defense attorney if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, your policy will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of insuring your Spark greatly outweigh the cost, particularly for liability claims. The average driver in Michigan is overpaying more than $830 a year so compare quotes from several companies at every policy renewal to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Specific coverage details
Having a good grasp of auto insurance can be of help when determining the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Chevy Spark.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (Michigan limits are 20/40/10), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.
Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims like driving through your garage door, rolling your car, crashing into a ditch and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your Spark to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as falling objects, hail damage and theft. The maximum amount your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Insurance for medical payments – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for bills for things like surgery, doctor visits, hospital visits and ambulance fees. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Liability insurance – This coverage provides protection from damage that occurs to a person or their property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 20/40/10 which means a $20,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $40,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $10,000.
Liability coverage protects against claims like structural damage, emergency aid, bail bonds, pain and suffering and funeral expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but buy as much as you can afford. Michigan state law requires minimum liability limits of 20/40/10 but drivers should carry higher limits.
The next chart shows why buying low liability limits may not be adequate.
Don’t give up on cheaper rates
You just learned a lot of ways to get a better price on Chevy Spark insurance in Detroit. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies.
When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where an insured cut physical damage coverage and discovered at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate and still be able to protect your assets.
Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, unfair underwriting practices, policy cancellation and even poor customer service. Whatever your reason, choosing a new company is not as hard as you think.
For more information, link through to these articles:
- Honda warning system reduces insurance claims (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Low Mileage Drivers in Detroit? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for a Company Car in Detroit? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Detroit Auto Insurance for College Graduates? (FAQ)
- Credit Impacts Car Insurance Rates (State Farm)
- Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
- Electronic Stability Control FAQ (iihs.org)
- Distracted Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)