Best Ways to Cut Costs When Quoting Mercedes-Benz S400 Insurance

Tired of being strong-armed to pay your car insurance bill each month? You are no different than most other car owners. Multiple auto insurance companies compete to insure your vehicles, so it can be very hard to choose a insurer to find the lowest rate

If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you can learn to find the best rates and still get good coverage. Finding affordable coverage is not that difficult. Drivers just need to know the best way to get comparison rates on the web.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance companies do not advertise all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list both the well known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
  • Drivers Ed for Students – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
  • Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home may trigger a car insurance policy discount because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.
  • Early Switch Discount – A few companies offer discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
  • Resident Student – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
  • Good Student – Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
  • Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
  • Discount for Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.

Why you might be paying too much to insure your Mercedes-Benz S400

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that play a part in calculating car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the factors companies use to determine premiums.

  • Safer cars cost less to insure – Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and any reduction in injury severity means lower claim amounts passed on to you as lower rates. If your Mercedes-Benz S400 scored better than four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org you may qualify for a discount.
  • Your job and insurance rates – Did you know your car insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations like judges, executives and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates in part from stressful work requirements and long work hours. On the other hand, professions such as pilots, students and performers receive lower rates on S400 insurance.
  • Do men or women drive better? – The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. Now that doesn’t mean women are better drivers. Both sexes have accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to get cited for more serious violations such as reckless driving.
  • What type of vehicle do you drive? – The performance level of the vehicle you own makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. Because the Mercedes-Benz S400 is classified as a luxury sedan, rates will be more than the average rate where you live. Small economy passenger models receive the most favorable rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
  • Multiple policies with one company can save – The majority of insurers will give a discount to people who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s still a good idea to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? – Liability insurance is the protection when you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It provides legal defense starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.

You are unique and your car insurance should be too

When it comes to buying coverage, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

  • Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
  • Should I buy only the required minimum liability coverage?
  • Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
  • Are my friends covered when driving my Mercedes-Benz S400?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Aren’t my neighborhood agents an option?

Some consumers would rather sit down with an agent and that is a personal choice. Agents can point out coverage gaps and give you someone to call. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get lower rates and still have an agent to talk to. insurance prices

To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, the quote information is sent to local insurance agents who will return price quotes for your coverage. You never need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy!

Picking an insurer shouldn’t rely on just a low price. These questions are important to ask:

  • If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
  • Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
  • Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
  • Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
  • Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
  • Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
  • Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
  • Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?

The different types of insurance agents

When looking for local agents, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Agencies can either be captive or independent. Both types can insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know how they are different because it can impact your agent selection.

Captive Agents

Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company and examples are Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They are unable to shop your coverage around so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies are trained well in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparison shopping, you should always include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection.

To view a complete directory of insurance agents, visit this page.

Once you have received reasonable responses to any questions you have as well as a affordable price, you’ve probably found an insurance agent that meets your needs to properly service your car insurance policy.

Drivers who switch save $464 a year? Really?

Consumers can’t get away from ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make an identical promise of big savings if you move your coverage to them.

How does each company claim to save you money?

Mercedes-Benz S400 insurance

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that earns them a profit. For example, a preferred risk might be profiled as between 25 and 40, owns a home, and has a short commute. Any driver who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential customers who don’t qualify for these standards must pay higher premiums and ends up with business not being written. The ads state “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. This illustrates why drivers must compare many company’s rates. It is impossible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Online plus local equals savings

Cheap Mercedes-Benz S400 insurance is definitely available from both online companies as well as from independent agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some car insurance companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

In this article, we covered a lot of techniques to save on Mercedes-Benz S400 insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the most savings is with the least-expected company. Regional companies often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.