If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to get low-cost auto insurance rates in Madison is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from companies who can sell car insurance in Wisconsin. Drivers can shop around by completing these steps.
- Learn about how auto insurance works and the modifications you can make to keep rates low. Many factors that drive up the price like getting speeding tickets and a substandard credit score can be eliminated by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. This article gives instructions to prevent expensive rate increases and find discounts that may have been missed.
- Compare rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can quote prices from multiple companies.
- Compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy and determine if there is any savings. If you find a lower rate and change companies, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
- Notify your agent or company to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit a signed application and payment for your new coverage. Immediately upon receiving it, place the new certificate verifying coverage along with your vehicle registration.
One key aspect when comparing rates is to make sure you enter identical coverages on every quote and and to get prices from every company you can. This provides an accurate price comparison and a complete price analysis.
It’s well known that auto insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. Consumers who shop rates annually are likely to switch companies because they have a good chance of finding a more affordable policy premium. A recent insurance study discovered that people who shopped around saved an average of $865 a year as compared to drivers who never compared other company’s rates.
If finding the lowest rates on car insurance in Madison is the reason you’re here, then understanding the best way to compare coverages can help simplify the task of finding more affordable coverage.
Locating the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Madison is really quite easy. Essentially everyone who is required to buy auto insurance will probably find a lower-cost policy. Nevertheless, Wisconsin vehicle owners benefit from understanding how insurance companies price insurance differently.
The quickest method to get rate comparisons for Scion tC insurance in Madison is to know the fact almost all companies provide online access to quote your coverage. All you need to do is give them rating details including your credit rating estimate, if you’re married, if a SR-22 is needed, and daily mileage. Your rating data is instantly submitted to multiple auto insurance providers and they return quotes with very little delay.
To start a quote now, click here then complete the form.
The following companies are ready to provide price comparisons in Madison, WI. To get cheap auto insurance in Madison, WI, we recommend you visit two to three different companies to get a more complete price comparison.
Rate information and statistics
The rate table shown below highlights estimates of insurance rates for Scion tC models. Knowing how insurance policy rates are determined is important for drivers to make smart choices when buying a policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TC 2-Dr Hatchback | $164 | $328 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,002 | $84 |
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Table data assumes single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Wisconsin minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in garaging location in Madison which can lower or raise rates greatly.
Policy deductibles
One common question asked by Madison drivers is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The rates below may aid in understanding the differences in premium rates of buying low and high insurance deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 deductible and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TC 2-Dr Hatchback | $198 | $484 | $288 | $18 | $86 | $1,099 | $92 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TC 2-Dr Hatchback | $110 | $256 | $288 | $18 | $86 | $758 | $63 |
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Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Wisconsin minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and safe-driver. Prices do not factor in specific location which can lower or raise rates considerably.
Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible will cost you roughly $29 more each month or $348 each year than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $900 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have at a minimum 31 months between claims, you would probably come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible.
How to determine when to raise your deductibles
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $92 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $63 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $29 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $100): | $900 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $900 / $29 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 31 months |
Tickets and at-fault accidents raise rates
The illustration below demonstrates how speeding tickets and at-fault claims can influence Scion tC car insurance rates for each age group. The data is based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
Difference between liability only and full coverage rates
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Scion tC insurance prices with full coverage compared to only the Wisconsin minimum liability coverage. Data assumes no tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no policy discounts are applied.
Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?
There is no set guideline to stop paying for comp and collision coverage, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is about 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Scion tC settlement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $4,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying over $400 annually for full coverage, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
There are some circumstances where buying only liability insurance is not a good plan. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to keep full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should maintain full coverage.
What Determines Scion tC Insurance Prices?
Many factors are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious like an MVR report, but some are not as apparent like your continuous coverage and annual miles driven.
Listed below are some of the items used by companies to determine your rate level.
Vehicles with better crash test results mean better car insurance rates – Safe vehicles tend to be cheaper to insure. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and fewer serious injuries means your insurance company pays less which can mean better rates for you.
Rates and employer – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations such as real estate brokers, executives, and stock brokers tend to pay higher premium rates because of intense work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations such as farmers, historians and retirees get better rates.
Liability claims can be big – The liability section of your policy kicks in in the event that you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. Liability provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability insurance is pretty cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
Incidental coverages that may not be needed – There are quite a few optional add-on coverages that can add up when buying car insurance. Add-on coverages like roadside assistance, accident forgiveness, and additional equipment coverage may not be needed and are just wasting money. These coverages may sound good when talking to your agent, but now you might not need them so consider taking them off your policy.
No policy lapses saves money – Allowing your car insurance policy to lapse is a sure-fire way to increase your renewal premiums. Not only will rates go up, failure to provide proof of insurance could earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You may then have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Wisconsin motor vehicle department.
Men pay higher prices – Over time, data shows women are more cautious behind the wheel. It does not mean males are worse at driving than females. Both sexes are in fender benders in similar numbers, but men have accidents that have higher claims. Not only that, but men also receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 tend to get in the most accidents so it costs more to insure them.
The example below visualizes the comparison of Scion tC insurance prices for male and female drivers. The rates are based on no violations or claims, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Lower rates come with age – Older, more experienced drivers have been proven to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents, and receive fewer citations. Young drivers tend to be inattentive and easily distracted when at the wheel of a vehicle so they pay higher car insurance rates.
The following data is based on a single driver, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Insurance loss data for Scion tC vehicles – Car insurance companies include the past claim trends for vehicles as a way to help calculate a profitable premium price. Models that have higher frequency or amount of claims will cost more for specific coverages. The table shown below demonstrates the historical insurance loss data for Scion tC vehicles.
For each type of coverage, the claim amount for all vehicles, as an average, is set at 100. Numbers below 100 suggest losses that are better than average, while numbers above 100 point to more frequent losses or an increased probability of a larger loss.
Vehicle Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scion tC | 133 | 139 | 136 | 148 | 152 | 143 |
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Three reasons to not skimp on car insurance
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Scion in Madison, insurance serves an important purpose.
First, most states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to carry a specific level of liability insurance coverage if you don’t want to risk a ticket. 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.
Second, if your Scion tC has a lienholder, more than likely the lender will make it mandatory that you have comprehensive coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the bank may insure your Scion at a much higher premium rate and require you to reimburse them the higher price.
Third, insurance protects both your Scion tC and your personal assets. Insurance will pay for many types of medical costs for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you cause an accident and are sued. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of insuring your tC outweigh the cost, especially for larger claims. An average driver in America is currently overpaying as much as $800 each year so it’s recommended you shop around at every policy renewal to make sure the price is not too high.
Which car insurance company is best in Madison?
Finding a highly-rated auto insurance provider is hard considering how many different companies sell coverage in Wisconsin. The information listed below could help you select which companies to look at when shopping your coverage around.
Top 10 Madison Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service
- Progressive
- Travelers
- Liberty Mutual
- Nationwide
- USAA
- AAA Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- GEICO
- Esurance
- The General
Top 10 Madison Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value
- USAA
- GEICO
- AAA Insurance
- Erie Insurance
- Liberty Mutual
- State Farm
- Allstate
- Safeco Insurance
- Travelers
- 21st Century