It’s hard to believe, but nearly 70% of customers renewed their policy with the same company for more than four years, and about 40% of consumers have never compared rates from other carriers. Many consumers in Kansas City can save hundreds of dollars each year just by comparing rates, but they just don’t understand the amount of money they would save if they switch to a new company.
The recommended way to find cheaper car insurance rates is to start doing an annual price comparison from different companies in Kansas City. Price quotes can be compared by completing these steps.
- Step 1: Read and learn about how car insurance works and the things you can change to prevent rate increases. Many factors that are responsible for high rates like getting speeding tickets and a negative credit score can be amended by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Step 2: Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes from multiple companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new quotes to the premium of your current policy to see if cheaper LaCrosse coverage is available in Kansas City. If you find better rates and change companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Provide adequate notice to your current company to cancel your existing policy. Submit a down payment and signed policy application to the new company. Once the application is submitted, keep your new certificate of insurance in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.
The most important part of this process is to try to compare identical coverage information on every quote and and to compare as many companies as you can. Doing this enables an apples-to-apples comparison and a better comparison of the market.
Keep in mind that making a lot of price comparisons helps increase your odds of locating a lower rate.
The companies shown below are ready to provide comparison quotes in Missouri. If you wish to find the best auto insurance in Missouri, we suggest you get price quotes from several of them to find the most affordable car insurance rates.
Save money with these money saving discounts
Some insurers don’t necessarily list every possible discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list a few of the more well known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using when you buy Kansas City car insurance online.
- First Accident Forgiveness – This one isn’t a discount, but some insurance companies will let one accident slide without the usual rate increase so long as you are claim-free for a set time period.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you combine your auto and homeowners policies and place coverage with the same company they may give you a discount of at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
- Claim-Free Discount – Drivers with accident-free driving histories get the best insurance rates as compared to policyholders that have many claims.
- Driver Safety – Taking a driver safety class could earn you a small percentage discount and make you a better driver.
- Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have lower rates if you buy a life policy as well.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Policyholders that allow data collection to track driving habits by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate could see a rate decrease if they are good drivers.
- Resident Student – Kids who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from Kansas City and don’t have a car could get you a discount.
A little disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to the whole policy. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won’t be that lucky. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your overall premium however.
The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Buick LaCrosse insurance costs with and without discounts. The rate quotes are based on a female driver, no accidents or driving violations, Missouri state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, claim-free, marriage, multi-car, safe-driver, and homeowner discounts applied.
If you would like to see a list of insurers that offer many of these discounts in Kansas City, click this link.
Rates and data analysis
The coverage information below highlights a range of insurance prices for Buick LaCrosse models. Having insight into how car insurance prices are established can assist in making smart choices when choosing a car insurance company.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Lacrosse CX | $200 | $344 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $832 | $69 |
Lacrosse CXL | $200 | $404 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $892 | $74 |
Lacrosse CXL AWD | $200 | $404 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $892 | $74 |
Lacrosse CXS | $222 | $404 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $914 | $76 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Premium data assumes married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Missouri minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Rates do not factor in garaging location in Kansas City which can increase or decrease rates considerably.
Higher deductibles lower rates
One common question asked by Kansas City drivers is which deductibles should you choose. The figures shown below sum up how much more you’ll pay of buying low and high deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 deductible and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Lacrosse CX | $232 | $346 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $911 | $76 |
Lacrosse CXL | $232 | $408 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $973 | $81 |
Lacrosse CXL AWD | $232 | $408 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $973 | $81 |
Lacrosse CXS | $258 | $408 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $999 | $83 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lacrosse CX | $144 | $218 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $670 | $56 |
Lacrosse CXL | $144 | $258 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $710 | $59 |
Lacrosse CXL AWD | $144 | $258 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $710 | $59 |
Lacrosse CXS | $160 | $258 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $726 | $61 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data represents married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Missouri minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Rates do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can decrease or increase coverage rates substantially.
Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $250 deductible costs about $21 more each month or $252 a year than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have at a minimum 36 months between claims, you would probably be better off if you opt for a higher deductible.
The example below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can increase or decrease Buick LaCrosse premium costs for different age groups of insureds. The premium estimates are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
Cost comparison with and without full coverage
The information below illustrates the comparison of Buick LaCrosse insurance rates with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The rates are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no set guideline that is best for determining when to drop comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than around 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s pretend your Buick LaCrosse replacement cost is $4,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $3,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are paying more than $300 a year for full coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
There are some cases where only buying liability is not a good idea. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
Compare prices but still have a local Kansas City insurance agency
Many drivers still like to talk to an insurance agent and that can be a smart move One of the benefits of comparing rate quotes online is that drivers can save money and get cheap rate quotes and still have a local agent. And providing support for neighborhood insurance agencies is definitely important in Kansas City.
After completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents in Kansas City who can give free rate quotes for your business. You won’t need to contact any agents due to the fact that quote results will go to you directly. You’ll get the best rates and a licensed agent to work with. If you wish to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, don’t hesitate to visit that company’s website and fill out the quote form the provide.
If you want to use a good insurance agency, there are two types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Kansas City are categorized either exclusive agents or independent agents.
Independent Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Agents of this type can quote rates with many companies and that is an advantage because they can write policies amongst many companies and get the cheapest rates. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency.
When shopping rates, you need to get several quotes from a couple of independent agencies to get the most accurate price comparison.
Featured below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Kansas City who may be able to give you cheap rate quotes.
Safeway Insurance Agency
3600 Broadway Suite 110 – Kansas City, MO 64111 – (816) 931-1222 – View Map
Chris Jones Insurance Agency
435 Nichols Rd #200 Kansas City, MO 64112 – Kansas City, MO 64112 – (816) 479-0212 – View Map
ABBA Insurance, LLC
315 E 18th Ave – Kansas City, MO 64116 – (816) 454-8833 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
These type of agents are contracted to one company like State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. Exclusive agents are unable to compare rates from other companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive insurance agents receive extensive training on their company’s products which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.
Shown below are Kansas City exclusive agencies willing to provide price quote information.
State Farm: Tony Guy
1100 Walnut St #130 – Kansas City, MO 64106 – (816) 221-9066 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: Kelly Benbow
221 E Gregory Blvd b – Kansas City, MO 64114 – (816) 333-3611 – View Map
Jamie Bilton – State Farm Insurance Agent
10901 Hickman Mills Dr Ste D – Kansas City, MO 64137 – (816) 763-5444 – View Map
Finding the right insurance agent is decision based upon more than just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask:
- What company do they have the most business with?
- Is the quote a firm price?
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- What insurance companies do they work with in Kansas City?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
Once you have received positive responses to your questions and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that can be relied on to properly service your insurance policy.
You may need specialized car insurance coverage
When choosing your policy, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your car insurance should unique, too.
These are some specific questions may help you determine if you might need professional guidance.
- Which is better, split liability limits or combined limits?
- Why am I required to buy liability insurance?
- Are my company tools covered if they get stolen?
- Do they offer discounts for home and auto coverage?
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
- Am I covered if I hit my neighbor’s mailbox?
- When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.
You Can Change Your Insurance Prices
Lots of things are taken into consideration when pricing auto insurance. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving history, but some are less apparent like your vehicle usage and annual miles driven.
- Do you have a stressful occupation? – Occupations such as judges, executives, and miners have the highest rates attributed to job stress and lengthy work days. On the other hand, careers such as actors, students and retirees receive lower rates.
- Vehicle theft costs us all – Buying a car with a theft deterrent system can save you some money. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack can help prevent car theft.
- Better premiums on safer cars – Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. Safe vehicles have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you. If the Buick LaCrosse has at least four stars on Safercar.gov you may qualify for a discount.
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Males pay higher costs – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown females are less aggressive when driving. It does not mean males are worse at driving than females. Both sexes tend to get into fender benders in similar percentages, but males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. In addition to higher claims, males also get cited for more serious violations such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving recklessly.
The example below shows the difference between Buick LaCrosse insurance costs for male and female drivers. Data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
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Insurance costs and vehicle performance – The performance level of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in your premium level. The most favorable rates are usually for economy passenger vehicles, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
The data below is based on a single female driver age 20, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The chart compares Buick LaCrosse policy rates compared to other models of vehicles that have a range of risk factors.
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Buick LaCrosse claim data – Insurers include the past claim trends for vehicles when determining insurance rates. Vehicles that the data shows to have increased losses will have higher rates. The next table illustrates the loss history for Buick LaCrosse vehicles.
For each coverage type, the claim amount for all vehicles combined as an average is considered to be 100. Values that are 100 or less suggest losses that are better than average, while percentage numbers above 100 indicate frequent claims or tendency to have larger claims.
Buick LaCrosse Insurance Claim Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Buick LaCrosse 2WD 96 85 93 100 109 92 Buick LaCrosse 4WD 101 92 113 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Insurance does more than just protect your car
Despite the potentially high cost of Buick LaCrosse insurance, maintaining insurance may be required and benefits you in several ways.
- Almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to buy a minimum amount of liability insurance if you want to drive legally. In Missouri 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.
- If you have a lien on your Buick, most banks will require that you carry insurance to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If the policy lapses, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Buick at an extremely high rate and require you to pay for it.
- Insurance protects both your vehicle and your personal assets. It will also reimburse you for medical bills incurred in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also covers legal expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If your Buick gets damaged, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of insuring your LaCrosse definitely exceed the price paid, particularly when you have a large claim. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is currently overpaying as much as $869 every year so you should quote rates at every renewal to save money.
Ratings for Missouri car insurance companies
Picking the best insurer can be a challenge considering how many companies there are to choose from in Missouri. The information below may help you analyze which car insurance providers to look at to insure your vehicles.
Top 10 Kansas City Car Insurance Companies by A.M. Best Rank
- USAA – A++
- GEICO – A++
- Travelers – A++
- State Farm – A++
- Allstate – A+
- Progressive – A+
- Mercury Insurance – A+
- The Hartford – A+
- Nationwide – A+
- Esurance – A+
Top 10 Kansas City Car Insurance Companies Overall
- USAA
- 21st Century
- GEICO
- Nationwide
- AAA Insurance
- Liberty Mutual
- Safeco Insurance
- State Farm
- Travelers
- American Family
Quote more and you will save more
Cheaper auto insurance in Kansas City can be purchased online as well as from independent agents in Kansas City, and you should compare rates from both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer rates over the internet and these small, regional companies work with local independent agencies.
When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
More learning opportunities
- Vehicle Insurance in the U.S. (Wikipedia)
- How Much Auto Coverage do I Need? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Institute)