The preferred way to get affordable auto insurance rates is to start doing a yearly price comparison from insurance carriers in Madison.
Step 1: Take a little time to learn about how companies price auto insurance and the modifications you can make to prevent high rates. Many policy risk factors that cause high rates like traffic violations, accidents, and a low credit score can be improved by making minor changes in your lifestyle. This article gives ideas to find cheap prices and get bigger discounts that may have been overlooked.
Step 2: Compare prices from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from multiple insurance companies. Compare rates
Step 3: Compare the quotes to your existing rates to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a lower rate and change companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Step 4: Notify your agent or company of your intent to cancel the current policy and submit a completed policy application and payment for your new coverage. Once the application is submitted, keep the new proof of insurance certificate with your registration paperwork.
A good tip to remember is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to analyze as many auto insurance providers as possible. Doing this ensures a fair price comparison and the best price quote selection.
Remarkably, a study showed that over 70% of drivers kept their coverage with the same insurance company for well over three years, and practically 40% of insurance customers have never compared rates from other carriers. Many consumers in Wisconsin could save an average of 30% each year by just comparing quotes, but they don’t invest the time required to compare rates online.
If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to get lower rates using these methods. Choosing the most cost-effective car insurance policy in Madison can be easy if you know a few tricks. Although Wisconsin drivers do need to understand how insurance companies calculate their prices because it varies considerably.
Most larger insurance companies allow you to get coverage price quotes on their websites. Doing online quotes for BMW X5 insurance in Madison is possible for anyone because you just enter the amount of coverage you want into the form. After you complete the form, the system collects information on your driving record and credit history and generates a price based on these factors. Quoting online for BMW X5 insurance in Madison makes it easy to compare insurance prices and it is important to compare as many rates as possible if you want to get a better rate.
If you want to find out what other companies charge, compare rate quotes from the providers shown below. To compare your current rates, we recommend that you enter deductibles and limits exactly as they are listed on your policy. This ensures you are getting an apples-to-apples comparison using the same coverage and limits.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide comparison quotes in Madison, WI. To locate the best cheap auto insurance in Madison, we suggest you get prices from several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Car insurance quotes and discounts
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but companies offer discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically when you complete an application, but less common discounts must be inquired about prior to receiving the credit.
- Accident Free – Insureds with no claims or accidents get the best car insurance rates in comparison with drivers with a long claim history.
- ABS Braking Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are much safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Seat Belts Save – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could cut 10% or more off PIP or medical payments premium.
- Distant Student – Kids who live away from home at college and leave their car at home can receive lower rates.
- Good Driver Discounts – Drivers who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accidents.
- Auto/Home Discount – When you combine your auto and home insurance with one insurance company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
- E-sign – Some of the larger companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for signing up on the internet.
- Discount for New Cars – Buying a new car model can save you some money since newer models have better safety ratings.
- Defensive Driver Discount – Completing a class that teaches driver safety techniques could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
- Good Students Pay Less – A discount for being a good student may save as much as 25% on a Madison car insurance quote. Many companies even apply the discount to college students until age 25.
Policy discounts save money, but most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
The information below illustrates the difference between BMW X5 insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The price estimates are based on a female driver, no claims or violations, Wisconsin state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-car, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver discounts applied.
A few popular companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts are detailed below.
- State Farm offers premium reductions for passive restraint, multiple autos, safe vehicle, multiple policy, student away at school, Drive Safe & Save, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- GEICO includes discounts for multi-vehicle, daytime running lights, anti-lock brakes, military active duty, anti-theft, defensive driver, and emergency military deployment.
- Allstate discounts include anti-lock brakes, passive restraint, senior citizen, FullPay discount, and eSmart discount.
- SAFECO may offer discounts for safe driver, anti-lock brakes, teen safety rewards, homeowner, drive less, multi-car, and bundle discounts.
- Farm Bureau offers discounts including driver training, safe driver, youthful driver, renewal discount, good student, and multi-policy.
- Progressive may have discounts that include good student, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, continuous coverage, and online quote discount.
- AAA has savings for pay-in-full, good driver, education and occupation, good student, AAA membership discount, multi-car, and multi-policy.
Double check with every insurance company what discounts are available to you. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not be offered in Madison. To choose insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Madison, click here.
Rate information and statistics
The table shown below covers a range of insurance costs for BMW X5 models. Learning how car insurance prices are determined can help drivers make decisions when shopping your coverage around.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X5 3.0I AWD | $176 | $278 | $234 | $14 | $70 | $772 | $64 |
X5 3.5D AWD | $194 | $320 | $234 | $14 | $70 | $832 | $69 |
X5 4.8I AWD | $194 | $320 | $234 | $14 | $70 | $832 | $69 |
X5 M AWD | $230 | $406 | $234 | $14 | $70 | $954 | $80 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Wisconsin minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free. Price information does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can lower or raise insurance rates considerably.
Do you need full coverage?
The illustration below illustrates the difference between BMW X5 auto insurance costs when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. Data assumes no claims or violations, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.
When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no definitive rule for excluding full coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let’s say your BMW X5 settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $3,000 after paying your deductible. If premiums are more than $300 a year to have full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are a few situations where dropping physical damage coverage is not in your best interest. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to carry full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should keep full coverage.
What if I want to buy from local Madison car insurance agents?
Some consumers just prefer to talk to a local agent and we recommend doing that One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is that drivers can save money and get cheap auto insurance rates and still have a local agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, the coverage information is sent to companies in Madison that give free quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t even need to search for an agent because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. You can get cheaper auto insurance rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you wish to quote rates from a specific company, feel free to find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
Deciding on a insurer shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. The following questions are important to ask.
- What kind of financial rating does the company have?
- Are they full-time agents?
- How experienced are they in personal risk management?
- Do you need full coverage on every vehicle?
- Which family members are covered?
- Do you work with a CSR or direct with the agent?
When searching for a good insurance agency, it can be helpful to understand the types of agencies from which to choose. Agencies in Madison can either be exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments.
Exclusive Agencies
Agents in the exclusive channel are contracted to one company such as Allstate, AAA, Farmers Insurance, and State Farm. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. They are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them sell on service rather than price.
Shown below are exclusive agencies in Madison who can help you get price quotes.
State Farm: Patrick Marsden
14 N Carroll St – Madison, WI 53703 – (608) 255-4544 – View Map
American Family Insurance – Josh Erickson Agency LLC
5530 Eastpark Blvd – Madison, WI 53718 – (608) 241-8444 – View Map
Farmers Insurance – Laura Beck Nielsen
1915 Winnebago St #102 – Madison, WI 53704 – (608) 237-3747 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
These type of agents often have affiliation with several companies so they have the ability to put coverage through many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you want to switch companies, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to do anything.
When comparison shopping, you will definitely want to check rates from at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection.
Shown below are independent agencies in Madison who can help you get price quote information.
Dairyland Auto Insurance
1800 Deming Way – Madison, WI 53717 – (608) 836-3000 – View Map
Red Barn Insurance Agency
6666 Odana Rd – Madison, WI 53719 – (608) 467-6804 – View Map
Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund
2820 Walton Cmns W # 135 – Madison, WI 53718 – (608) 242-9473 – View Map
If you receive satisfactory answers to any questions you may have as well as the cheapest BMW X5 insurance in Madison quotes, you’ve probably found an auto insurance agent that is reliable enough to insure your vehicles.
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When selecting a policy, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are unique to you and your car insurance should unique, too.
These are some specific questions might help in determining if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
- When should I remove comp and collision on my BMW X5?
- Do I need an umbrella policy?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
- Are rock chip repairs covered?
- Do I have newly-acquired coverage?
- Which companies are cheaper for teen drivers?
- Do I need replacement cost coverage?
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 want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Why you need quality insurance for your X5
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a BMW X5 in Madison, insuring your vehicle is a good idea for several reasons.
First, the majority of states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a specific minimum amount of liability insurance coverage in order to license the vehicle. 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 X5 has a loan, it’s most likely the lender will have a requirement that you buy insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your BMW for a lot more money and require you to reimburse them the higher price.
Third, insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your financial assets. It will also cover most medical and hospital costs for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of your driving. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of having insurance outweigh the cost, especially for larger claims. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver is overpaying more than $830 a year so you should quote your policy with other companies every year to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Coverage specifics
Having a good grasp of a car insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the normal coverages available from car insurance companies.
Medical expense insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills such as rehabilitation expenses, pain medications, surgery and hospital visits. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, falling objects, a broken windshield, damage from getting keyed and theft. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your BMW X5.
Since many Wisconsin drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/10), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.
Coverage for collisions
This will pay to fix damage to your X5 from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage pays for things like hitting a mailbox, hitting a parking meter and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible on your X5 to get cheaper collision coverage.
Liability insurance
This provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. It protects YOU against claims from other people. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see values of 25/50/10 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $10,000.
Liability can pay for things such as repair costs for stationary objects, pain and suffering, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, medical services and court costs. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as large an amount as possible. Wisconsin state law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/10 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.
The chart below shows why buying the state minimum limits may not be adequate.
Wisconsin auto insurance companies
Choosing the best insurer can be difficult considering how many different companies sell coverage in Madison. The ranking information in the next section may help you select which companies to look at when shopping your coverage around.
Top 10 Madison Car Insurance Companies Overall
- USAA
- 21st Century
- GEICO
- Nationwide
- AAA Insurance
- Liberty Mutual
- Safeco Insurance
- State Farm
- Travelers
- American Family
In Summary
There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and these small insurance companies only sell through independent agencies. Lower-priced car insurance in Madison can be sourced online and also from your neighborhood Madison agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out they didn’t have enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at the best possible price.
Other resources
- Pickups fall short in headlight tests (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Affordable Madison Auto Insurance Rates for a Honda Accord? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Infrequent Drivers in Madison? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a Ford F-150 in Madison? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for Government Employees in Madison? (FAQ)
- New head restraint design cuts injuries (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Electronic Stability Control FAQ (iihs.org)
- Cellphones, Texting and Driving (iihs.org)