Shocking but true, over 70% of Alaska drivers renewed their policy with the same company for more than four years, and about 40% of consumers have never even compared quotes to find lower-cost rates. Consumers in America could save approximately $860 every year, but they mistakenly think it’s difficult to compare rates.
If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to find cheaper Ford C-Max Hybrid insurance in Anchorage is to start doing an annual price comparison from companies who provide auto insurance in Alaska. Drivers can shop around by following these steps.
- Step 1: Get an understanding of the coverage provided by your policy and the changes you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating factors that drive up the price like traffic citations, accidents, and a not-so-good credit history can be improved by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Step 2: Quote rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote rates from multiple companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a lower rate quote and make a switch, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
One bit of advice is to try to use the same liability limits and deductibles on each quote request and and to compare as many auto insurance providers as possible. This enables an apples-to-apples comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
It’s important to know that obtaining a wide range of quotes increases the chance that you will find a lower rate than you’re paying now.
The companies shown below provide price comparisons in Alaska. In order to find cheap auto insurance in AK, we suggest you visit two to three different companies to get the best price comparison.
Three good reasons to insure your vehicle
Despite the high cost, paying for auto insurance is a good idea for several reasons.
First, just about all states have minimum liability requirements which means you are required to buy specific minimum amounts of liability in order to drive the car. In Alaska these limits are 50/100/25 which means you must have $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if your vehicle has a loan, most banks will have a requirement that you carry insurance to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you default on your policy, the bank may insure your Ford at a more expensive rate and force you to pay much more than you were paying before.
Third, insurance protects both your Ford C-Max Hybrid and your personal assets. It will also pay for most medical and hospital costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are sued as the result of your driving. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, your policy will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of buying auto insurance definitely exceed the price paid, particularly for liability claims. Today the average American driver is overpaying over $750 every year so you should quote your policy with other companies at least once a year to ensure rates are competitive.
Auto insurance discounts help lower rates for Ford C-Max Hybrid insurance in Anchorage
Auto insurance is not cheap nor is it fun to buy but companies offer discounts to help offset the cost. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about in order for you to get them.
- Senior Citizens – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for a slight reduction on a Anchorage car insurance quote.
- Claim Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less in comparison to bad drivers.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts may get savings of 20% or more.
- Student Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver’s ed class as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
- Drive Safe and Save – Accident-free drivers can save up to 40% or more on their Anchorage car insurance quote than their less cautious counterparts.
- E-sign Discounts – A handful of companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing on the internet.
- Anchorage Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Anchorage may trigger a policy discount on auto insurance since owning and maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- Good Student Discount – Excelling in school can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
- Driving Data Discount – Insureds who allow their auto insurance company to track when and where they use their vehicle by using a telematics device such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system might get better premium rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Low annual miles could qualify for substantially lower rates.
Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the whole policy. Some only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though you would think you can get free auto insurance, that’s just not realistic.
The best auto insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts are outlined below.
- American Family policyholders can earn discounts including Steer into Savings, early bird, mySafetyValet, multi-vehicle, air bags, good student, and accident-free.
- Farm Bureau may have discounts that include youthful driver, multi-policy, 55 and retired, safe driver, and multi-vehicle.
- State Farm offers discounts including good driver, student away at school, multiple policy, multiple autos, accident-free, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and Drive Safe & Save.
- Travelers may include discounts for IntelliDrive, new car, multi-policy, driver training, and payment discounts.
- The Hartford offers premium reductions for bundle, good student, anti-theft, air bag, vehicle fuel type, driver training, and defensive driver.
- GEICO may offer discounts for good student, anti-theft, daytime running lights, defensive driver, seat belt use, and anti-lock brakes.
- Progressive discounts include online signing, continuous coverage, good student, online quote discount, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle.
When quoting, ask each company or agent to give you their best rates. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply everywhere. If you would like to choose from a list of auto insurance companies that have a full spectrum of discounts in Alaska, click this link.
Compare rates but still have a local Anchorage insurance agency
Many people just want to visit with an insurance agent and that is not a bad decision A good thing about price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent. And buying from neighborhood agents is especially important in Anchorage.
After completing this quick form, your coverage information is transmitted to agents in your area who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. You never need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent instantly to you. You can get cheaper car insurance rates and a licensed agent to work with. If for some reason you want to get a price quote from a specific company, don’t hesitate to go to their quote page and fill out their quote form.
Compare rates from both independent and exclusive auto insurance agents
When researching a local agent, there are a couple of different types of agents and how they can quote your rates. Agents in Anchorage are classified as either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents are not required to write business for one company so they can quote policies with multiple insurance companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If they find a lower price, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to do anything. When shopping rates, it’s recommended you include several independent insurance agents to maximize your price options. They also have the ability to place coverage with additional companies that you may not be familiar with that can offer cheaper rates than bigger companies.
Featured below are independent insurance agencies in Anchorage that may be able to provide free price quotes.
- Integrity Insurance Agency
1505 W 34th Ave – Anchorage, AK 99503 – (844) 878-0258 – View Map - Alaska Service Agency
6901 Debarr Road #201 – Anchorage, AK 99504 – (907) 337-2311 – View Map - Alaska Pacific Insurance Agency dba: APIA Insurance
912 E 15th Ave #100 – Anchorage, AK 99501 – (800) 890-5563 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
Exclusive agencies can only place business with one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agents cannot compare rates from other companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which aids in selling service over price. Many people buy from exclusive agents partially due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
The following are exclusive agents in Anchorage that are able to give price quotes.
- Doug McCann – State Farm Insurance Agent
360 Boniface Pkwy, Ste B5 – Anchorage, AK 99504 – (907) 272-6442 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: Stan Tebow
3701 E Tudor Rd Ste 105 – Anchorage, AK 99507 – (907) 562-2645 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: William R. McVitty
550 E Tudor Rd Ste 201 – Anchorage, AK 99503 – (907) 563-9690 – View Map
Selecting an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a low price. You should also get answers to these questions.
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Do they have 24-hour customer assistance?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
- Does their agency support local causes in Anchorage?
- Do they offer accident forgiveness?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
Coverages available on your policy
Having a good grasp of auto insurance can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Comprehensive insurance
This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like damage from a tornado or hurricane, rock chips in glass, vandalism, theft and hail damage. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses for hospital visits, surgery and ambulance fees. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Collision protection
Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as rolling your car, colliding with another moving vehicle and backing into a parked car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also increase the deductible on your C-Max Hybrid to bring the cost down.
Liability car insurance
Liability insurance will cover damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/25 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for claims like attorney fees, loss of income and medical services. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. Alaska requires drivers to carry at least 50/100/25 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.
The illustration below shows why minimum state limits may not provide you with enough coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Ford C-Max Hybrid.
Due to the fact that many Alaska drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (50/100/25), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Normally the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
One last thing to lower rates
We just presented a lot of information how to get a better price on Ford C-Max Hybrid insurance in Anchorage. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of getting affordable Anchorage car insurance quotes. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from the least-expected company.
Drivers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as lack of trust in their agent, high rates after DUI convictions, delays in paying claims or even high prices. No matter why you want to switch, switching companies can be easy and end up saving you some money.
When buying insurance coverage, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your objective should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
More detailed car insurance information can be found at these sites:
- Honda warning system reduces insurance claims (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for a 20 Year Old Male in Anchorage? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for a Hyundai Santa Fe in Anchorage? (FAQ)
- Distracted Driving Extends Beyond Texting (State Farm)
- Understanding your Policy (NAIC.org)
- Coverage Information (Progressive Insurance)