Sad but true, almost 70% of insureds kept their policy with the same company for at least the last four years, and nearly 40% of drivers have never compared rate quotes at all. Many drivers in Madison could save 30% each year by just comparing rate quotes, but they just don’t want to compare rates.
The best way to find more affordable auto insurance rates is to begin comparing prices regularly from insurance carriers that sell auto insurance in Madison. Rates can be compared by completing these steps.
First, read about how companies price auto insurance and the measures you can control to keep rates in check. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices such as speeding and an imperfect credit score can be eliminated by paying attention to minor details. This article provides instructions to prevent rate hikes and find hidden discounts.
Second, compare price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote prices for a wide range of insurance providers. Compare rates now
Third, compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy and determine if there is any savings. If you find better rates, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
One thing to point out is to make sure you’re comparing the same deductibles and limits on every quote request and and to get rate quotes from as many carriers as you can. This provides a level playing field and a better comparison of the market.
If you have a policy now or just want to save money, use these cost-cutting techniques to lower your rates and still have adequate protection. Locating the best rates in Madison is actually quite simple. You only need an understanding of the best way to compare prices using one simple form.
The quickest way to compare insurance rates in your area is to take advantage of the fact most larger insurance companies have advanced systems to provide you with a free rate quote. To begin a comparison, all you need to do is provide the companies a bit of rating information like if you lease or own, if a SR-22 is needed, whether you drive to work or school, and if it has an alarm system. That rating data is instantly sent to many of the top insurers and they return cost estimate instantly.
If you wish to get multiple quotes for your car now, click here and enter your coverage details.
The following companies can provide price comparisons in Wisconsin. If your goal is to find cheap car insurance in Madison, WI, we suggest you visit several of them in order to find the cheapest rates.
These discounts can lower your car insurance quotes
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there may be some discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Many discounts should be triggered at the time of quoting, but a few need to be asked about before being credited.
- No Accidents – Insureds with no claims or accidents pay much less as opposed to accident-prone drivers.
- Accident Forgiveness Coverage – Not a discount per se, but certain companies may permit one accident before they charge you more for coverage if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Sign Early and Save – Some insurance companies provide a discount for switching to them early. It can save you around 10%.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Accident-free drivers may receive a discount up to 45% than drivers with accident claims.
- Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in Madison may trigger a policy discount on car insurance since owning and maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.
- Life Insurance – Some insurance companies give a discount if you purchase life insurance.
- Safety Restraint Discount – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you can bundle your homeowners and auto insurance and place coverage with the same company you could earn a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Despite the fact that it seems like you could get a free car insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
The information below shows the comparison of Mercedes-Benz C350 insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The premiums are based on a female driver, no claims or driving violations, Wisconsin state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-car, homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, and claim-free discounts applied.
A list of companies and a selection of discounts are detailed below.
- GEICO may have discounts that include military active duty, air bags, membership and employees, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, and good student.
- MetLife has discounts for accident-free, multi-policy, good student, defensive driver, claim-free, and good driver.
- Progressive may include discounts for multi-policy, online quote discount, good student, homeowner, continuous coverage, online signing, and multi-vehicle.
- Travelers offers discounts including IntelliDrive, driver training, student away at school, multi-policy, payment discounts, and new car.
- SAFECO may offer discounts for safe driver, teen safe driver, homeowner, teen safety rewards, anti-lock brakes, and accident prevention training.
- AAA offers premium reductions for education and occupation, pay-in-full, multi-car, anti-theft, good student, and good driver.
If you are trying to find cheaper Madison auto insurance quotes, ask every insurance company how many discounts you can get. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be offered in Madison. To locate car insurance companies with the best Mercedes-Benz C350 insurance discounts in Wisconsin, click here to view.
Insurance coverage analysis
The table shown below covers estimates of rate quotes for Mercedes-Benz C350 models. Having a better idea how rate quotes are formulated can assist in making informed decisions when shopping around for a new policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C350 W 4-Dr Sedan | $166 | $302 | $236 | $14 | $70 | $788 | $66 |
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Price data assumes married male driver age 40, 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. Rate quotes do not factor in Madison location which can affect coverage prices greatly.
Physical damage deductible comparison
One of the more difficult decisions when buying auto insurance is how high should your deductibles be. The rates below summarize how much more you’ll pay between low and high physical damage deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C350 W 4-Dr Sedan | $224 | $406 | $230 | $14 | $68 | $967 | $81 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C350 W 4-Dr Sedan | $138 | $256 | $230 | $14 | $68 | $706 | $59 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Wisconsin minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-policy. Estimates do not factor in zip code location which can revise premiums considerably.
Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $22 more each month or $264 a year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have at a minimum 34 months between claims, you would probably save some money by selecting a higher deductible. Here’s a better example of how you can come to your own conclusion.
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $81 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $59 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $22 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $22 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 34 months |
One thing to note is that higher deductibles means you will have to pay more of your own money when you do file a claim. That will require some extra savings in the event you need to pay the deductible to have repairs made.
Annual premiums for males compared to females
The chart below visualizes the comparison of Mercedes-Benz C350 premium costs for male and female drivers. The information is based on no claims or driving violations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.
Difference between liability only and full coverage rates
The diagram below visualizes the comparison of Mercedes-Benz C350 car insurance rates when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The rates are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied.
Deciding between full coverage and liability only
There isn’t a steadfast formula to eliminate physical damage insurance, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is about 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
For example, let’s say your Mercedes-Benz C350 settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $3,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are currently paying more than $300 a year to have full coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
There are some cases where removing full coverage is not in your best interest. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not buy liability only.
Lower Your Madison Insurance Premiums
Many factors are part of the equation when premium rates are determined. Some factors are common sense such as traffic violations, but others are less apparent like your continuous coverage and annual miles driven.
Traffic violations are costly – How you drive influences premium rates substantially. Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Even one speeding ticket can increase rates by as much as twenty percent. Drivers who have gotten dangerous violations such as DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may face state-mandated requirements to complete a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to legally drive.
The diagram below shows how violations and accidents influence Mercedes-Benz C350 insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The rate quotes are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Improve your credit history and save – An insured’s credit score can be an important factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. So if your credit score leaves room for improvement, you could save money insuring your Mercedes-Benz C350 if you improve your credit rating. Insureds with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with worse credit.
Do thieves like your car? – Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can earn a premium discount. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart auto theft.
Liability protection claims can be big – Liability coverage kicks in if you are determined to be liable for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage which can cost a lot. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
Local Madison insurance agencies
A lot of people just prefer to get advice from a local agent and that is a personal choice. Professional insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and will help you if you have claims. One of the benefits of comparing insurance online is that drivers can save money and get better rates and also buy local. Supporting neighborhood agents is still important in Madison.
Upon completion of this quick form, the coverage information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Madison who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to contact an agency as quotes are delivered instantly to you. If you need to get a price quote from a specific insurance provider, you just need to visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.
When searching for local Madison agents, it can be helpful to understand the different types of agents that you can select. Insurance policy providers can either be independent agents or exclusive agents. Both do a good job, but it’s good to learn the differences because it may have an impact on the kind of agent you use.
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be independent can quote rates with many companies so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. If they find a cheaper price, the business is moved internally and the insured can keep the same agent. When shopping rates, you should always compare prices from at least one independent agent to maximize your price options.
Featured below is a partial list of independent agents in Madison who can help you get free rate quotes.
M3 Insurance
828 John Nolen Dr – Madison, WI 53713 – (608) 273-0655 – View Map
Red Barn Insurance Agency
6666 Odana Rd – Madison, WI 53719 – (608) 467-6804 – View Map
Dairyland Auto Insurance
1800 Deming Way – Madison, WI 53717 – (608) 836-3000 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be exclusive generally can only insure with one company like AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot give you multiple price quotes so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive agencies receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.
Shown below are exclusive insurance agencies in Madison willing to provide price quote information.
American Family Insurance – Josh Erickson Agency LLC
5530 Eastpark Blvd – Madison, WI 53718 – (608) 241-8444 – View Map
Farmers Insurance – Debra Armstrong
621 N Sherman Ave, Ste B16 – Madison, WI 53704 – (608) 222-1400 – View Map
Larry Sain – State Farm Insurance Agent
424 S Park St – Madison, WI 53715 – (608) 257-5132 – View Map
Deciding on an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the bottom line cost. Here are some questions to ask:
- Is the agency active in community causes in Madison?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- How long has their agency been in business in Madison?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Do you work with a CSR or direct with the agent?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Is insurance their full-time profession?
- Will they take your side in the event of a claim?
When in doubt talk to an agent
Keep in mind that when it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are unique to you.
For instance, these questions might help in determining if you could use an agent’s help.
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
- What is glass protection for?
- Do I need an umbrella policy?
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
- I have a DUI can I still get coverage?
If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.
Madison car insurance companies ranked
Buying coverage from the right insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many companies provide coverage in Wisconsin. The company ratings in the lists below could help you decide which companies you want to consider comparing price quotes from.
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
Top 10 Madison Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service
- Progressive
- Travelers
- Liberty Mutual
- Nationwide
- USAA
- AAA Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- GEICO
- Esurance
- The General
Persistent drivers can save
We just showed you a lot of information how to save on Mercedes-Benz C350 insurance in Madison. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
Consumers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as poor customer service, lack of trust in their agent, delays in paying claims or even being labeled a high risk driver. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a great new company is not as hard as you think.
Cheaper car insurance in Madison can be purchased both online in addition to many Madison insurance agents, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not provide rates over the internet and many times these smaller providers only sell coverage through local independent agencies.
More learning opportunities
- Auto Crash Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Madison Auto Insurance Rates for a 20 Year Old Female? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Madison Auto Insurance Rates for a Honda Accord? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Madison Auto Insurance for a Jeep Grand Cherokee? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Police Officers in Madison? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Madison Car Insurance Rates for High Mileage Drivers? (FAQ)
- Five Mistakes to Avoid (Insurance Information Institute)
- Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)
- Auto Insurance Learning Center (State Farm)
- Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)