Smart shoppers know that car insurance companies don’t want you shop around. Insureds who shop around for cheaper prices will probably switch companies because they have a good chance of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. A recent survey found that consumers who made a habit of comparing rates saved over $850 each year compared to people who never shopped for cheaper rates.
If finding budget-friendly car insurance in Omaha is why you’re here, then having a good understanding how to find companies and compare coverage rates can make shopping around easier.
The recommended way to find lower priced auto insurance rates is to start comparing prices regularly from insurance carriers who sell insurance in Omaha. Rates can be compared by following these guidelines.
- Get an understanding of how companies set rates and the changes you can make to prevent rate increases. Many rating factors that cause rate increases like getting speeding tickets and an unacceptable credit history can be rectified by being financially responsible and driving safely. Continue reading for more ideas to find cheap prices and find discounts that may have been missed.
- Compare prices from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only provide price estimates from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can quote rates from multiple insurance companies.
- Compare the new rates to the price on your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a better price and decide to switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
A tip to remember is to make sure you’re comparing identical deductibles and limits on every quote request and and to analyze as many auto insurance providers as possible. This guarantees a level playing field and and a good selection of different prices.
Locating the most cost-effective insurance policy in Omaha can be easy if you know a few tricks. Virtually every car owner who is shopping for insurance will more than likely find a lower price. But Nebraska car owners must understand how big insurance companies charge you for coverage and apply this information to your search.
Affordable companies for BMW X3 insurance
The car insurance companies shown below can provide price quotes in Omaha, NE. If multiple companies are listed, it’s highly recommended you get rates from several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
BMW X3 coverage analysis
The rate table shown next covers estimates of insurance premium costs for BMW X3 models. Learning more about how insurance prices are established can help you make decisions when shopping your coverage around.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X3 3.0I xDrive AWD 4-Dr | $138 | $276 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $796 | $66 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Nebraska minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and safe-driver. Rate information does not factor in Omaha location which can impact auto insurance rates considerably.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
One of the more difficult decisions when buying car insurance is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The rates below sum up the cost difference between high and low physical damage coverage deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X3 3.0I xDrive AWD 4-Dr | $292 | $530 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,255 | $105 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X3 3.0I xDrive AWD 4-Dr | $180 | $334 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $922 | $77 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Nebraska minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-policy. Rate information does not factor in specific Omaha garaging location which can influence coverage prices greatly.
Based on the figures above, using a $250 deductible would cost the average driver about $28 more each month or $336 each year across all BMW X3 models than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have more than 27 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you elect the higher deductible.
Calculation for determining deductible levels
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $105 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $77 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $28 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $28 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 27 months |
One big caveat is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates means you will have to pay more out-of-pocket when you have to file a claim. You need some extra savings in the event you have to pay more for the deductible.
The information below highlights how deductible selection and can influence BMW X3 insurance costs for each age group. The rates are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage
The illustration below illustrates the comparison of BMW X3 insurance prices with and without physical damage coverage. The prices are based on no claims or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?
There is no exact rule of when to phase out full coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let’s say your BMW X3 book value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $3,000 after paying your policy deductible. If you are currently paying more than $300 annually for physical damage coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are some scenarios where removing full coverage is not a good idea. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.
Get cheaper rates on BMW X3 insurance in Omaha with these discounts
Not too many consumers would say car insurance is affordable, but you may find discounts that you may not even know about. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you purchase, but a few must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount. If you do not double check each discount possible, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Use Seat Belts – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to buckle up can save a little off the personal injury premium cost.
- Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft so companies will give you a small discount.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower prices.
- Membership in Organizations – Belonging to a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for car insurance.
- Accident Forgiveness Coverage – Not necessarily a discount, but a handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before they charge you more for coverage as long as you don’t have any claims for a certain period of time.
- Good Student Discount – Being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts up to age 25.
- Save with More Vehicles Insured – Buying coverage for several vehicles on one policy can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
- Online Discount – Some car insurance companies will give you a small discount simply for signing on the internet.
- Driver Safety – Completing a class that teaches driver safety techniques could save 5% or more and easily pay for the cost of the class.
You should keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Even though the math looks like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way. Any qualifying discounts will definitely lower the cost of coverage.
The example below visualizes the comparison of BMW X3 yearly insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The data is based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, Nebraska state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, marriage, and claim-free discounts applied.
A list of car insurance companies and some of the discounts are outlined below.
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including multi-vehicle, online signing, good student, homeowner, and online quote discount.
- AAA offers discounts including AAA membership discount, multi-policy, good driver, good student, anti-theft, and multi-car.
- Farmers Insurance offers discounts for pay in full, alternative fuel, mature driver, business and professional, switch companies, early shopping, and good student.
- GEICO includes discounts for military active duty, defensive driver, emergency military deployment, good student, and daytime running lights.
- Esurance has discounts for good student, DriveSense, paid-in-full, multi-policy, Pac-12 alumni, and good driver.
- SAFECO may offer discounts for multi-car, accident prevention training, teen safe driver, homeowner, and bundle discounts.
- State Farm has savings for good student, accident-free, driver’s education, student away at school, and multiple autos.
Before you buy a policy, ask every insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply to policyholders in Omaha. If you would like to see a list of providers with discount car insurance rates in Omaha, click this link.
It’s not one size fits all
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really isn’t a cookie cutter policy. Each situation is unique and your auto insurance should unique, too. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if you could use an agent’s help.
- Is a driver training discount available?
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- Do I need more liability coverage?
- Do I need motorclub coverage?
- What does medical payments cover?
- When should I remove my kid from my policy?
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Comparing prices from local Omaha insurance agencies
Some consumers still like to have an agent’s advice and that is a smart decision An additional benefit of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates and still choose a local agent.
After filling out this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is submitted to local insurance agents who will gladly provide quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered instantly to you. You’ll get the best rates without requiring a lot of work. In the event you want to quote rates from one company in particular, feel free to visit that company’s website and give them your coverage information.
Finding the right insurer requires you to look at more than just the premium amount. Here are some questions you should ask.
- Are they paid to recommend certain coverages?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Will one accident increase rates?
- In the event of vehicle damage, can you pick the collision repair facility?
- Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
Exclusive agents vs. Independent agents
If you want to use a local insurance agency, you must know there are a couple different types of agents that you can select. Agencies in Omaha are classified as either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
These agents normally can only provide a single company’s rates like Allstate, AAA, Farmers Insurance, and State Farm. These agents are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive agents are usually well trained on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Drivers often choose to use a exclusive agent partially due to the brand legacy rather than low rates.
The following is a list of exclusive agents in Omaha willing to provide price quotes.
- Tom Kaspar – State Farm Insurance Agent
1722 N 120th St – Omaha, NE 68154 – (402) 493-0101 – View Map - American Family Insurance – Robert Vacanti Agency Inc.
2928 N 108th St – Omaha, NE 68164 – (402) 496-1550 – View Map - Tim Edwards – State Farm Insurance Agent
6550 S 84th St #200 – Omaha, NE 68127 – (402) 331-0112 – View Map
Independent Auto Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be independent can quote rates with many companies and that enables them to quote your coverage with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. If they find a lower price, your agent can just switch to a different company and you don’t have to switch agencies.
If you need cheaper auto insurance rates, you will definitely want to include price quotes from independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices. Most have the option of insuring with companies that do not advertise much which may provide better rates.
Shown below are Omaha independent insurance agencies that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Davis Companies
1313 Cuming St #200 – Omaha, NE 68102 – (402) 399-9090 – View Map - Best Insurance Agency
7300 F St – Omaha, NE 68127 – (402) 331-1515 – View Map - Southwell Insurance Agency, LLC.
2809 S 160th St #307 – Omaha, NE 68130 – (402) 493-6940 – View Map
If you receive satisfactory answers for all questions you ask and an affordable coverage quote, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that is a good match to properly service your auto insurance policy. It’s important to know that it’s your policy and you can terminate your policy whenever you choose to so never assume that you are obligated to a specific agent for the full policy term.
How much can you save?
When getting Omaha car insurance quotes online, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price and still be able to protect your assets.
In this article, we covered a lot of techniques to reduce BMW X3 insurance prices online in Omaha. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. You may even be surprised to find that the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies. Smaller companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
Other articles
- Determining Your Vehicle’s Value and Repair Cost (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance with Multiple Speeding Tickets in Omaha? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Omaha Car Insurance Rates for a School Permit? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Nissan Sentra in Omaha? (FAQ)
- Learn About Car Insurance (GEICO)
- Car Insurance FAQ (Trusted Choice)