You have most likely watched the catchy commercials from insurers like Liberty Mutual, Allstate, and GEICO claiming big savings. So you should just pick the one with the best commercial, right?
It’s just not that easy, however, as there are a ton of unknown aspects such as if you are currently insured, the vehicle you are insuring, and how well you maintain your credit, that all influence how much you pay for auto insurance. The content below will cover the best ways to find cheap auto insurance and also should give you a good beginning to your search for cheaper coverage.
Comparing quotes for reasonably-priced insurance is confusing at best, and finding out which companies have the lowest-priced auto insurance rates for teachers will require more quotes for comparison. Each auto insurance company has their own process to determine premium rates, so first let’s look at the rankings for the overall cheapest auto insurance companies in Detroit, MI.
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| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $987 |
| 2 | GEICO | $1,033 |
| 3 | Safeco | $1,037 |
| 4 | MetLife | $1,310 |
| 5 | Chubb | $1,372 |
| 6 | MEEMIC | $1,436 |
| 7 | Pioneer State Mutual | $1,474 |
| 8 | Hastings Mutual | $1,643 |
| 9 | Frankenmuth | $1,645 |
| 10 | Auto-Owners | $1,652 |
| 11 | SECURA | $1,850 |
| 12 | Progressive | $1,904 |
| 13 | Wolverine Mutual | $2,147 |
| 14 | Allied | $2,240 |
| 15 | Grange Mutual | $2,253 |
| 16 | Allmerica | $2,362 |
| 17 | Hanover | $2,376 |
| 18 | Auto Club Group | $2,416 |
| 19 | Nationwide | $2,593 |
| 20 | Farm Bureau | $2,678 |
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USAA offers some of the lowest car insurance rates in Detroit at around $987 per year. This is $1,406 less than the average premium paid by Michigan drivers of $2,393. GEICO, Safeco, MetLife, and Chubb would also make the list of some of the best Detroit, MI car insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you are a policyholder with MetLife and switched to USAA, you may realize an annual premium reduction of around $323. Policyholders with Chubb could save as much as $385 a year, and MEEMIC customers might realize rate reductions of up to $449 a year.
Understand that those premiums are averaged for all insureds and vehicles and and are not figured with an exact zip code location for teachers. So the company that has the lowest price for you may not even be in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to get auto insurance quotes using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
One of the many factors that are looked at to help calculate insurance cost is where your car is garaged in Detroit. Areas with more people or even just a higher incidence of claims tend to pay more, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims have the enjoyment of a little cheaper coverage.
The illustration below lists the most expensive cities in Michigan for teachers in which to purchase auto insurance. Detroit ranks #1 with an annual cost of $4,960 for the average policy, which is around $413 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $4,960 |
| 2 | Dearborn | $4,002 |
| 3 | Southfield | $3,862 |
| 4 | Pontiac | $3,531 |
| 5 | Dearborn Heights | $3,337 |
| 6 | Flint | $3,337 |
| 7 | Warren | $3,289 |
| 8 | Taylor | $3,116 |
| 9 | Westland | $2,937 |
| 10 | Sterling Heights | $2,924 |
| 11 | St. Clair Shores | $2,819 |
| 12 | Farmington Hills | $2,704 |
| 13 | Livonia | $2,688 |
| 14 | Rochester Hills | $2,567 |
| 15 | Troy | $2,536 |
| 16 | Novi | $2,514 |
| 17 | Saginaw | $2,481 |
| 18 | Royal Oak | $2,462 |
| 19 | Lansing | $2,439 |
| 20 | Battle Creek | $2,378 |
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Annual rates are approximated as specific location information can affect premiums noticeably.
The vehicle model on the policy is a large factor when shopping for cheaper insurance for teachers. Vehicles with high performance engines, poor crash test ratings, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost more to insure than more economical and safe models.
The next table estimates car insurance premiums for the most economical vehicles to buy insurance for.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $4,117 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $4,469 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $4,476 |
| Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $4,611 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $4,867 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4WD 4-Dr | $5,008 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $5,132 |
| Ford Edge Sport 2WD | $5,138 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $5,132 |
| Toyota Prius | $5,141 |
| Honda Odyssey EX W/Rear Entertainment | $5,223 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $5,232 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $5,242 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $5,328 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $5,337 |
| Ford F-350 XLT Crew Cab Lariat 2WD | $5,406 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $5,611 |
| Honda Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan | $5,616 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LT Extended Cab 2WD | $5,703 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $5,726 |
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Price data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Michigan minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and homeowner. Premium costs do not factor in specific zip code location which can revise prices considerably.
By looking at the data, vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Jetta, Hyundai Elantra, and Ford Escape should be some of the cheaper vehicles to insure for teachers and educators.
Discount Detroit car insurance rates
Insurers that sell policies for teachers may also offer premium discounts that can reduce rates by 30% or more if you qualify. Popular auto insurance companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts are:
- State Farm offers discounts for student away at school, anti-theft, multiple autos, passive restraint, and driver’s education.
- GEICO offers discounts including seat belt use, military active duty, multi-vehicle, good student, driver training, and anti-lock brakes.
- Liberty Mutual policyholders can earn discounts including newly married, safety features, newly retired, good student, and multi-car.
- The Hartford may have discounts that include vehicle fuel type, air bag, defensive driver, bundle, anti-theft, and good student.
- MetLife offers premium reductions for good student, accident-free, multi-policy, claim-free, good driver, and defensive driver.
- Progressive may offer discounts for online signing, good student, multi-policy, online quote discount, homeowner, and continuous coverage.
The chart below shows the difference between car insurance rates with and without some available policy discounts. The data is based on a female driver, no accidents, no driving violations, Michigan state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows the average rate with no discounts. The second shows the rates with passive restraint, multiple vehicle, safe-driver, multiple policy, claim-free, and anti-theft discounts applied. When these discounts are applied, theamount saved on auto insurance for teachers is 28% or $1,033.
The chart below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles can raise or lower insurance costs when getting quotes for cheap insurance for teachers. The premium estimates are based on a married female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
A 30-year-old driver could pocket $762 a year by switching the physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $1,150 by using a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, such as the 20-year-old chart data, could possibly save as much as $1,630 or even more by choosing larger deductibles on their policy. If you make the decision to raise deductibles, it is a good idea to have emergency funds available to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which deters some drivers from choosing higher deductibles.
Why you should shop around
Michigan auto insurance rates are influenced by many factors which can substantially change the policy premium. Turning one year older, having a teen driver, or getting a few speeding tickets may prompt premium changes that can make some companies more affordable than competitors. Additionally, insurers change premium rates as needed to adjust for gains or losses. Higher than usual claims may result in additional premium costs, while a profitable period can produce lower-priced Detroit car insurance rates.
For example, the bar chart below shows which companies have the cheapest car insurance in Detroit, MI for a 45-year-old male driver with no accidents or violations, and a good credit rating. If we estimate prices based on his current risk factors, USAA may have the cheapest car insurance rates in Detroit at $2,190 a year. This is $203 less than the average policy premium paid by Michigan drivers of $2,393. GEICO, Safeco, MetLife, and MEEMIC are also included in the best Detroit, MI auto insurance companies.
The example below compares rates after we give the driver in the first example an at-fault accident, less-than-perfect credit, and a blemish on his driving record. Since every car insurance company has their own unique process for setting prices, analyzing rate quotes may now result in a different list of the cheapest car insurance companies in Detroit as shown below.
GEICO now has the lowest price in Detroit with Pioneer State Mutual, USAA, Safeco, and Auto-Owners also being competitive. This example proves why Michigan drivers need to perform an extensive rate comparison when trying to get the best auto insurance rates for teachers.
Car insurance prices are made up of many factors and change substantially, so the best company six months ago may now not even be in the top five.
How to find cheaper car insurance for teachers
The list below shows some penny-pinching solutions that can help you quote cheap car insurance.
- Save money by insuring older vehicles for liability only
- Avoid accidents
- Raise your deductibles
- Serious violations like DUI or reckless driving can increase rates dramatically
- Get cheaper liability coverage by choosing a safer vehicle
- Pay lower rates with good credit
- Comparison shop at least once a year
That last tip is very critical, as we noted in this piece. Insurance rates in Detroit can change considerably based on profitability, so don’t be tentative to buy from a new company if a more affordable price is available.
Sticking with a specific company is fine, but it’s not a great idea if that inflexibility results in costing you a small fortune year after year. It only takes a couple minutes to compare rates to find cheaper car insurance for teachers.