It takes a little time, but the best way to get affordable car insurance rates is to compare quotes annually from insurance carriers who sell auto insurance in Madison.
- Step 1: Spend some time learning about what coverages are included in your policy and the measures you can take to prevent high rates. Many risk factors that are responsible for high rates such as speeding tickets, accidents and a bad credit rating can be rectified by making minor changes in your lifestyle. This article gives instructions to get affordable coverage and get additional discounts that may have been overlooked.
- Step 2: Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only give prices from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can quote prices from multiple companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the premium of your current policy and see if you can save money. If you find a lower rate quote, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
- Step 4: Provide adequate notice to your current company to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit the required down payment along with the signed application to your new carrier. Don’t forget to store the proof of insurance paperwork with the vehicle registration.
One thing to remember is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to analyze all possible companies. This helps ensure an apples-to-apples comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
Anyone knows that insurance companies want to keep your business as long as possible. People who compare other prices are likely to buy a new policy because there is a significant possibility of finding good coverage at a lower price. A survey found that drivers who faithfully checked for cheaper rates saved as much as $3,400 over four years compared to drivers who never shopped around for cheaper prices.
If finding budget-friendly rates on auto insurance is your objective, then having some knowledge of how to shop for cheaper coverage can make it easier to shop your coverage around.
Buying the cheapest insurance in Madison is much easier if you have a good place to start. If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you can use these tips to get lower rates without reducing coverage. Smart shoppers just need to learn the quickest method to compare different rates using one simple form.
Why You Might Pay Lower Rates in Madison
Consumers need to have an understanding of a few of the rating criteria that help calculate the price you pay for insurance. If you have some idea of what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make good choices that can earn you better insurance rates. Many factors are used in the calculation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some of the criteria are obvious such as your driving history, but others are less obvious like your vehicle usage and annual miles driven.
The factors shown below are some of the things used by companies to determine prices.
Cheaper premiums with safer cars – Cars with five star safety ratings tend to have lower insurance rates. Highly rated vehicles reduce occupant injuries and reduced instances of injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
More traffic means higher claims – Living in smaller towns and rural areas of the country has definite advantages when it comes to insurance. People who live in big cities have congested traffic and a longer drive to work. Fewer drivers and short commutes means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Responsible credit scores equal low rates – An insured’s credit rating can be an important factor in your rate calculation. Therefore, if your credit rating is lower than you’d like, you could potentially save money when insuring your Mazda 6 if you clean up your credit. Insureds with very good credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with lower credit scores.
Gender is a factor – The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, don’t assume that women are better drivers. They both are in auto accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species tend to have higher claims. Men also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving.
The diagram below shows the comparison of Mazda 6 insurance costs for male and female drivers. The price estimates are based on no claims or driving violations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are factored in.
Low deductibles cost more – Physical damage deductibles define the amount you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Physical damage protection, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are rear-ending another vehicle, vandalism, and having a roll-over accident. The higher the amount you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
Prevent theft and save money – Buying a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your premiums. Anti-theft features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all hinder auto theft and help lower rates.
Rates may be lower depending on your vocation – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Careers like fire fighters, business owners, and stock brokers generally have higher premium rates attributed to high stress levels and long work hours. On the other hand, occupations like farmers, students and the unemployed pay the least.
Additional coverages that may be costing you – There are many extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t diligent. Coverages like rental car coverage, high-cost glass coverage, and extra life insurance coverage could be just wasting money. They may seem good when deciding what coverages you need, but if you don’t need them think about removing them and cutting costs.
Insurance loss data for Mazda 6 vehicles – Companies analyze the history of losses when they file their rates in each state. Models that are shown to have higher claim frequency or loss amount will have a higher cost to insure. The information below illustrates the insurance loss data for Mazda 6 vehicles.
For each type of coverage, the claim amount for all vehicles as a whole equals 100. Values under 100 are indicative of better than average losses, while numbers shown that are more than 100 indicate more frequent losses or an increased likelihood of larger losses.
| Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda 6 | 99 | 92 | 112 | 94 | 98 | 94 |
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Getting a cheaper price on Mazda 6 insurance can be surprisingly simple. The only thing you need to do is spend a few minutes to compare rate quotes to find out which insurance company has affordable Madison auto insurance quotes.
The companies shown below can provide price comparisons in Wisconsin. In order to find the best cheap car insurance in WI, we recommend you visit two to three different companies in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Mazda 6 insurance rates and statistics
The price information shown below highlights different insurance coverage prices for Mazda 6 models. Being able to understand how insurance policy rates are established can be of help when making smart choices when buying a car insurance policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 I Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $164 | $242 | $302 | $18 | $90 | $816 | $68 |
| 6 I SV 4-Dr Sedan | $164 | $242 | $302 | $18 | $90 | $816 | $68 |
| 6 I Touring 4-Dr Sedan | $164 | $242 | $302 | $18 | $90 | $816 | $68 |
| 6 I Touring Plus 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $242 | $302 | $18 | $90 | $838 | $70 |
| 6 I Touring Plus 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $242 | $302 | $18 | $90 | $838 | $70 |
| 6 I Grand Touring 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $284 | $302 | $18 | $90 | $880 | $73 |
| 6 S Touring Plus 6 Cyl 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $284 | $302 | $18 | $90 | $880 | $73 |
| 6 S Touring Plus 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $284 | $302 | $18 | $90 | $880 | $73 |
| 6 S Grand Touring 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $284 | $302 | $18 | $90 | $880 | $73 |
| 6 S Grand Touring 6 Cyl 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $284 | $302 | $18 | $90 | $880 | $73 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Wisconsin minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can lower or raise insurance rates noticeably.
The diagram below shows how choosing a deductible and can increase or decrease Mazda 6 insurance prices for different ages of insureds. The rate quotes are based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, and no other discounts are factored in.
Full coverage or liability only
The illustration below shows the comparison of Mazda 6 insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage. The premiums assume no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.
When to eliminate full coverage
There is no clear-cut rule to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s say your Mazda 6 replacement value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $2,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying more than $200 annually to have full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are some cases where eliminating full coverage is not a good idea. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to keep full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not remove full coverage.
Why you need to buy insurance
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Mazda 6 in Madison, paying for insurance is required by state law in Wisconsin and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.
- The majority of states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a specific level of liability in order to drive the car. In Wisconsin 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.
- If your Mazda 6 has a lienholder, almost every bank will stipulate that you buy insurance to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you let the policy lapse, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Mazda for a much higher rate and make you pay much more than you were paying before.
- Insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your financial assets. It will also reimburse you for medical expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance greatly outweigh the cost, especially if you ever need it. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver is overpaying more than $855 a year so compare rates at every renewal to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Get cheaper Mazda 6 insurance rates in Madison
Not many people think insurance is cheap, but you may be missing some discounts to help offset the cost. Certain credits will be shown at the time of quoting, but a few must be manually applied in order for you to get them. If you’re not getting every credit available, you could be getting lower rates.
- Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially in comparison to drivers who are more careless.
- Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in Madison may trigger a policy discount on insurance since owning and maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
- Discount for New Cars – Putting insurance on a new 6 is cheaper because newer vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Accident Waiver – This one isn’t a discount, but some insurance companies permit an accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
- Discount for Good Grades – A discount for being a good student could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Buying a policy with several vehicles with the same insurance company can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Low Miles Discount – Driving less could qualify for discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
Drivers should understand that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though the math looks like you could get a free insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky.
The example below compares Mazda 6 insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the rates. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, Wisconsin state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, marriage, and multi-car discounts applied.
If you would like to choose from a list of insurance companies with discount insurance rates in Madison, follow this link.
Independent or exclusive auto insurance agents
Many drivers still prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that can be a smart move Professional agents are trained risk managers and will help you if you have claims. The biggest benefit of comparing auto insurance online is that drivers can save money and get cheap rate quotes and also buy local.
After completing this simple form, the quote information is sent to insurance agents in Madison who will gladly provide quotes for your coverage. You don’t have to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go directly to you. In the event you want to quote rates for a specific company, you just need to find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
Choosing the best company should include more criteria than just a cheap quote. Here are some questions to ask:
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Madison?
- Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
- Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
Exclusive or Independent: There is a difference
When searching for a reliable agent, it’s helpful to know the types of insurance agents from which to choose. Madison agents are considered either exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments. Both sell affordable auto insurance policies, but it is a good idea to know the difference in the companies they write for since it can impact buying decisions.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
These type of agents have only one company to place business with like State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. These agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive agencies receive extensive training on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Many people purchase coverage from exclusives partially due to the brand and solid financial strength.
Below are exclusive insurance agencies in Madison who may provide you with price quote information.
- American Family Insurance – Michael Kittoe
334 Junction Rd – Madison, WI 53717 – (608) 827-9788 – View Map - Farmers Insurance: Jesus Carvajal
5555 Odana Rd #201 – Madison, WI 53719 – (608) 278-7055 – View Map - American Family Insurance – Yolanda Grajales-Sutter
7878 Big Sky Dr Ste I – Madison, WI 53719 – (608) 826-4518 – View Map
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agencies are not required to write business for one company and that enables them to quote your coverage with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your premiums go up, the business is moved internally and the insured can keep the same agent.
If you are comparing auto insurance prices, you should always contact independent agents to have the best price comparison. Many can place coverage with companies you’ve never heard of that may provide cheaper auto insurance rates.
Listed below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Madison that are able to give price quotes.
- Homewood Insurance Agency
583 D’onofrio Dr Ste. 1012 – Madison, WI 53719 – (608) 442-6666 – View Map - The Curtis Agency
2929 Atwood Ave – Madison, WI 53704 – (608) 250-2501 – View Map - Thomas Bradley Insurance
1001 Fourier Dr Suite 100 – Madison, WI 53717 – (608) 845-7979 – View Map
Everyone needs different auto insurance coverages
When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s needs are different.
For example, these questions may help highlight if your situation would benefit from professional advice.
- Am I covered if I have no license?
- Is a fancy paint job covered?
- Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
- Are rock-chip repairs free?
- Does rental coverage apply when I am renting a car?
- How can I get my company to pay me more for my totaled car?
- What is the ISO rating for a Mazda 6?
- Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.
Cheaper insurance is out there
In this article, we covered many ways to save on Mazda 6 insurance in Madison. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may even discover the lowest rates are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
Insureds who switch companies do it for many reasons like unfair underwriting practices, questionable increases in premium, being labeled a high risk driver or policy non-renewal. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be pretty painless.
Cost effective Mazda 6 insurance can be bought from both online companies and with local Madison insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not provide the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
Additional detailed information is available by following these links:
- Choosing a Car for Your Teen (State Farm)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for Safe Drivers in Madison? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Welfare Recipients in Madison? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Madison Auto Insurance for 4×4 Vehicles? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Uber Drivers in Madison? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for Drivers Over Age 60 in Madison? (FAQ)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)
- Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)