The Dos and Don'ts of Auto Insurance in Missouri

Many people think that buying auto insurance in Missouri is difficult.  Well, it's not if you take advantage of a few helpful tips and suggestions.  Follow along below for some dos and don'ts from someone who's dealt with thousands of customers in his time as an independent agent.  You might be surprised how little some people actually know about insurance.It's a little-known fact that insurance agents really have a lot of leeway when pricing policies.  There are also many decisions that the agent can make which will potentially save you a great deal of money when buying auto insurance in Missouri.DO - Speak with your agent about increasing your deductible.  The money you can save by increasing your deductible from $250 to $500 or $500 to $1000 is tremendous.  Remember that you never want to make a claim for small damage amounts because the insurance company will most likely raise your rates after a claim has been filed.  Save yourself the frustration and raise your deductible to at least $500 (the minimum amount for which I would recommend filing a claim).DON'T - Carry "full coverage" on an old vehicle.  Many people needlessly carry full coverage on their older vehicle. They originally purchased the vehicle new, paid for full coverage and to this day, continue to pay the same high rate. Their ten year old vehicle may be worth $1000 or less, yet they continue to pay $250-$450 every six months (total $500 to $900 dollars a year) to keep full coverage on their old vehicle.DO - Combine your auto insurance coverage with your home insurance to accumulate additional discounts.  Many people do not know that they can receive a significant discount on auto and home insurance when both are held by the same company.  It doesn't always make sense to do this, so ask your agent whether or not you can save money by combing your policies with one insurer.DON'T - Pay your insurance bill without questioning your insurance agent about additional discounts.  A good insurance agent will contact you at least once a year to go over your policy and determine whether you should be rated differently or qualify for additional discounts.  Don't pay your insurance agent for the privilege of having your business, make him earn his money.As you can see, there are many simple tips that will help you when purchasing auto insurance in Missouri.  Don't be afraid to question your insurance agent or even speak with other insurance agents to make sure you're getting the best deal for your dollar.