Tips on lowering premiums | Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration (2024)

  • Drive safely: Nothing affects your auto insurance rates more than your driving record. Every time you are responsible for an accident or receive a moving traffic violation you risk having your premium raised or your policy cancelled.
  • Shop around: Consumers can increase their odds of getting the best insurance "deal" by getting information about rates, coverage and service from a number of companies and agents. A few phone calls may save you $50 to $100. There are several websites that can provide instant quotes for auto insurance from several companies along with providing contact numbers for local agents. Be wary, however, of buying auto insurance directly over the Internet without a local agent.
  • Increase deductibles: Your auto insurance rates will decrease as you raise the deductible amounts on your policy. A deductible is the amount of any loss you must pay before the insurance company will cover damages. For example, if you have a deductible of $100 on your auto policy and have $1,000 worth of damage, you pay the first $100 and the insurance company pays $900. Deductibles are not available on liability coverage.
  • Credit Scores: Most insurance companies use your credit history along with accidents, violations, age and location to determine your premiums. Obtain a copy of your credit report and verify that the information is accurate. Bankruptcies, judgments, liens, late pays and credit inquiries will cause your "credit score" to decrease and your premiums to increase. See how large insurers use credit scores on auto policies in Missouri.
  • Take advantage of special discounts: Some companies offer "good student" discounts to young drivers with good academic records. Others offer discounts for insuring two or more cars, buying both auto and homeowners coverage or special features that lower accident risk. Don't wait for your agent to offer a discount, ask for them. However, don't automatically assume that just because you get a discount the rate is a good one. In some cases, a company's rates without a discount can be lower than those of other companies that offer discounts. Shop around and compare rates.
  • Financing your insurance premium: Try to pay for your automobile insurance for the full policy period. Some companies have a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual installment payment plans at an extra cost. However, automobile insurance costs are sometimes financed by outside sources; charges can sometimes be very expensive. Check closely into the added cost of any premium financing plan.
  • Consider insurance costs when you buy a car: Insurance costs go up if you buy a high-performance or more expensive automobile. Talk to your agent about the cost of insurance before you buy.
  • Reduce or eliminate collision and/or comprehensive coverage on an old car: The amount you may pay in premiums may equal the cash value of your automobile.
  • Insure all your cars with the same company.
  • Notify your agent if you:
    • Substantially cut down on your annual mileage.
    • Move to a different neighborhood, town or state.
    • Sell a car.
    • Cut down on the number of drivers in the household.
    • Marry.
    • Turn 21, 25 or 29.
    • These changes in circ*mstances may lower your premium.
  • Don’t duplicate coverage: Try not to buy automobile insurance and health/accident insurance that pay for the same things. Compare your policies and consult with your agent or broker before purchasing additional coverage.

Group insurance: Some associations, organizations, or employee groups have insurance plans available to members to purchase automobile (or other) insurance through special arrangements with insurance companies.

In some cases, the insurance company may automatically accept all group members for insurance or only those members meeting their requirements. Group arrangements for insurance may save you money, however, they may not always do so. Look into the cost of purchasing insurance coverage individually.

Topics for Consumers

Missouri Department of Commerce & Insurance
Insurance Divisions
Street Address:
Harry S Truman State Office Building
301 W. High St., Room 530, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Mailing Address:
PO Box 690
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0690
Correspondence with fees:
PO Box 4001
Jefferson City, MO 65102-4001
Main Office Phone Number: (573) 751-4126


Map to Office
Tips on lowering premiums | Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration (2024)

FAQs

How can you reduce your insurance policy payment answer? ›

One of the best ways to keep your auto insurance costs down is to have a good driving record.
  1. Shop around. ...
  2. Before you buy a car, compare insurance costs. ...
  3. Ask for higher deductibles. ...
  4. Reduce coverage on older cars. ...
  5. Buy your homeowners and auto coverage from the same insurer. ...
  6. Maintain a good credit record.

What actions can be taken to lower the insurance premiums? ›

5 ways to lower insurance premiums
  • Review your policy coverage. Look over your policies annually, because prices can change from year to year. ...
  • Check your deductibles. ...
  • Make home improvements. ...
  • Discontinue extra coverage. ...
  • Ask for discounts.

Which is the best strategy to reduce the cost of insurance premiums? ›

Choose a deductible that makes sense

Choose a property deductible that makes sense for you. If you only need insurance if the claim is more than $5,000, choose a $5,000 deductible. Higher deductibles will reduce the premium.

What is one way to lower the cost of your insurance premium? ›

1. Increase your deductible. Depending on your insurance provider, paying a higher deductible (the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in, in the event of an incident) is typically a quick and easy way you can decrease your auto insurance payments.

How can I reduce my policy premium? ›

5 Ways to Lower Your Car Insurance Premium
  1. Choose the type of car you drive carefully. Does the type of car you drive affect your car insurance premium? ...
  2. Watch your driving record & take a driving course. ...
  3. Increase your car insurance excess. ...
  4. Take car security seriously. ...
  5. Review your car insurance cover regularly.
Jan 23, 2024

What may reduce your insurance premium? ›

Ask for a higher deductible

Typically, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. Increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce the cost of collision and comprehensive coverage by 15% to 30%, according to the Insurance Information Institute, while upping it to $1,000 could save you 40% or more.

How do you reduce your premium? ›

Increase your deductible

It's an out-of-pocket expense that's effectively "deducted" from your total claim settlement. If you can afford a higher repair bill than your current deductible, consider raising it to a limit you feel comfortable with. Typically, the higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premium.

How can insurance costs be reduced? ›

For example, if you pay for AAA roadside assistance, you may be able to shave similar coverage off your auto insurance policy. Some newer cars already include some form of roadside assistance, he added. A common tactic for lowering monthly premiums is to choose a policy with a higher deductible.

What are three factors that might make your insurance premium higher or lower? ›

Some factors that may affect your auto insurance premiums are your car, your driving habits, demographic factors and the coverages, limits and deductibles you choose. These factors may include things such as your age and your driving record.

What is a strategic approach to cost reduction? ›

The best cost reduction strategies track all operating expenses. They calculate every penny related to storage, supply, and office space. The key is comparing those operations costs to the established budget. If a business is way over budget in any area, it should consider this a red flag.

What is an effective way to reduce the premium paid for a homeowners policy? ›

Raise your deductible

The higher your deductible, the more money you can save on your premium, so if you can pay above the minimum $500 or $1,000 deductible, for example, you may reduce the cost of your homeowners policy.

How can you reduce premiums by better use of deductibles? ›

A quick way to reduce your premium is to raise your homeowners insurance deductible, the amount you pay if you have to make a claim. If you have a $1,000 deductible, you could save an average of nearly 13% a year by increasing it to $2,500, according to NerdWallet's rate analysis.

What actions can be taken to lower these insurance premiums? ›

Tip #1: Take Higher Deductible

One way to minimize an increase in your site's insurance premiums is to ask your insurer for a higher deductible. Insurers will charge lower premiums if you're willing to assume more risk of paying losses out of your own pocket before turning to your insurance.

Can you negotiate your insurance premiums? ›

Auto insurance prices are non-negotiable, so you can't ask your car insurance company to lower your rates. However, there are several ways to find more affordable premiums. Compare quotes from multiple insurers. Although states regulate the cost of car insurance, different companies offer varying rates.

What is a premium reduction plan? ›

What is a Premium Reduction Plan (or PRP)? Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code allows employers to set up a Premium Reduction Plan as a benefit for employees enrolled on certain plans. With the implementation of a PRP, employees may pay for their portion of premiums (or costs on such plans) on a pretax basis.

How can you reduce your insurance policy payment driver's ed? ›

Getting an Insurance Discount Through DriversEd.com

One way to receive a discount of up to 10% is to enroll in a drivers education or a defensive driving course. A drivers education course is especially important in the case of teen drivers or others who may expect high insurance premiums.

How can you reduce your insurance policy payment iDriveSafely? ›

Taking a California traffic school course online can help lower your insurance rate, especially if you have a good driving history or it is a minor offense.

How can I reduce my life insurance premiums? ›

If you need to cut down on the costs of your life insurance this year, the following strategies may help you do so:
  1. Assess your coverage needs.
  2. Compare quotes from multiple insurers.
  3. Improve your health habits.
  4. Opt for term life insurance.
  5. Bundle policies for discounts.
  6. Consider a no-exam policy.
Jan 22, 2024

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Zonia Mosciski DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6428

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Zonia Mosciski DO

Birthday: 1996-05-16

Address: Suite 228 919 Deana Ford, Lake Meridithberg, NE 60017-4257

Phone: +2613987384138

Job: Chief Retail Officer

Hobby: Tai chi, Dowsing, Poi, Letterboxing, Watching movies, Video gaming, Singing

Introduction: My name is Zonia Mosciski DO, I am a enchanting, joyous, lovely, successful, hilarious, tender, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.