It’s an obvious statement that auto insurance companies don’t want their customers to go rate shopping. Consumers who shop around for cheaper price quotes will presumably switch companies because the odds are good of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. A recent survey revealed that drivers who compared price quotes annually saved as much as $850 each year as compared to drivers who don’t regularly compare prices.
If finding budget-friendly car insurance is your target objective, understanding how to find and compare car insurance can help make the process easier.
If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to get cheaper auto insurance rates in Scottsdale is to regularly compare prices from different companies in Arizona.
- Get a basic knowledge of auto insurance and the steps you can take to keep rates down. Many rating criteria that cause high rates such as traffic violations and poor credit can be eliminated by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only provide price estimates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agents can provide price quotes for many different companies.
- Compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find a lower rate, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
A valuable tip to remember is to make sure you enter the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each quote and and to look at every company you can. Doing this provides an apples-to-apples comparison and many rates to choose from.
The purpose of this article is to teach you a little about how car insurance companies work and some tricks to saving. If you have coverage now, you will be able to reduce the price you pay using the following tips. Comparison shoppers only need to know the most efficient way to buy auto insurance using one simple form.
The fastest way that we advise to get policy rate comparisons for BMW 535i insurance in Scottsdale is to realize most of the larger companies participate in a system to quote your coverage. To get started, all you need to do is provide the companies a bit of rating information like if a SR-22 is required, how much school you completed, driver ages, and marital status. Those rating factors is submitted instantly to multiple car insurance providers and you will receive price estimates instantly to find the best rate.
If you would like to start a quote now, click here and enter your coverage details.
The providers in the list below offer quotes in Arizona. If your goal is to find the cheapest car insurance in Scottsdale, it’s a good idea that you visit as many as you can in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Scottsdale car insurance discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise all available discounts very well, so here is a list both well-publicized and the more hidden credits available to lower your premiums when you buy Scottsdale car insurance online.
- E-sign – A few insurance companies will give a small break get Scottsdale car insurance on the web.
- Clubs and Organizations – Participating in qualifying employment or professional organizations could earn you a nice discount on your policy.
- Government Employee Discount – Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
- Claim Free – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims get the best car insurance rates when compared to frequent claim filers.
- Senior Citizen Rates – Seniors may qualify for a slight reduction on a Scottsdale car insurance quote.
- Driving Data Discount – Scottsdale drivers who agree to allow driving data collection to analyze driving manner by using a telematic data system like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot could possibly reduce rates as long as the data is positive.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Buying a policy with multiple cars with the same company can get a discount for every vehicle.
Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the whole policy. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though you would think you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck.
The chart below shows the comparison of BMW 535i insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, no claims or driving violations, Arizona state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, claim-free, marriage, multi-car, safe-driver, and multi-policy discounts applied.
To see a list of insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Scottsdale, follow this link.
Analysis of BMW 535i rates
The data table below highlights different coverage prices for BMW 535i models. Learning a little about how auto insurance premiums are established can be of help when making informed decisions when comparing rate quotes.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 535I 4-Dr Sedan | $396 | $880 | $404 | $24 | $122 | $1,826 | $152 |
| 535I xDrive Station Wagon | $396 | $880 | $404 | $24 | $122 | $1,826 | $152 |
| 535I GT 4-Dr Sedan | $396 | $880 | $404 | $24 | $122 | $1,826 | $152 |
| 535I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $434 | $880 | $404 | $24 | $122 | $1,864 | $155 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in zip code location which can affect premium rates significantly.
Policy deductibles
A question often asked by Scottsdale drivers is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The data tables below can help show the premium difference when you buy lower versus higher physical damage deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 physical damage coverage deductible and the second rate chart uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 535I 4-Dr Sedan | $358 | $716 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,507 | $126 |
| 535I xDrive Station Wagon | $358 | $716 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,507 | $126 |
| 535I GT 4-Dr Sedan | $358 | $716 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,507 | $126 |
| 535I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $390 | $716 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,539 | $128 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 535I 4-Dr Sedan | $262 | $484 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,154 | $96 |
| 535I xDrive Station Wagon | $262 | $484 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,154 | $96 |
| 535I GT 4-Dr Sedan | $262 | $484 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,154 | $96 |
| 535I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $286 | $484 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,178 | $98 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Premium amounts do not factor in garaging location in Scottsdale which can raise or lower prices significantly.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $100 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $30 more each month or $360 for a full year than buying the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $400 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to go at a minimum 13 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you opt for a higher deductible. Here’s how you can come to your own conclusion.
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $127 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $97 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $30 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $30 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 13 months |
An important thing to remember is that higher deductibles means you pay more out-of-pocket at claim time. You need to make sure you have enough money stashed away in the event you need to pay the deductible.
The information below highlights how deductible selection and can raise or lower BMW 535i insurance premiums for different categories of driver ages. Data assumes a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
Cost of full coverage
The example below shows the comparison of BMW 535i premium costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The costs are based on no accidents or driving violations, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
When to stop buying comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no set guideline for excluding physical damage coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of coverage is 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your BMW 535i claim settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would get paid by your company is $3,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are paying more than $300 annually for full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some circumstances where eliminating full coverage is not financially feasible. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to keep full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.
How You Can Control BMW 535i Insurance Costs
Lots of things are used when quoting car insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious like an MVR report, but others are less obvious like where you live or how safe your car is. Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that aid in calculating your premiums. When consumers understand what determines premiums, this enables informed choices that could result in cheaper rates.
The items below are some of the most common factors that factor into rates.
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Is your vehicle built for speed? – The performance of the car you are trying to find cheaper insurance for makes a huge difference in how high your rates are. Low performance passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but many other things help determine your insurance rates.
The data below assumes a married male driver age 40, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It illustrates BMW 535i policy rates compared to other makes and models that have different performances.
- Pleasure use or commuting – The more you drive your BMW every year the higher the price you pay to insure it. Most insurance companies apply a rate partially by how you use the vehicle. Autos that sit idle most of the time can be on a lower rate level compared to those used for work or business. It’s always a good idea to double check that your insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct driver usage, because it can save money. Having the wrong rating on your 535i may be costing you higher rates.
- Lower premiums for cars with good safety ratings – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. Highly rated vehicles help reduce the chance of injuries in an accident and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and cheaper rates on your policy. If your BMW 535i is rated at least four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org you may be receiving a better rate.
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Men are more aggressive – Statistics have proven women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes are responsible for auto accidents at about the same rate, but the men have accidents that have higher claims. In addition to higher claims, males also receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Male teenagers generally have the highest accident percentage and therefore pay the highest rates.
The diagram below visualizes the comparison of BMW 535i insurance prices for male and female drivers. The rates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are factored in.
- Liability protection safeguards assets – Liability insurance will afford coverage if ever a jury decides you are liable for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
- See if your company offers a multi-policy discount – Most insurance companies afford better rates to insureds that purchase more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Even if you qualify for this discount already, it’s always a smart idea to compare other Scottsdale 535i insurance rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Local Scottsdale car insurance agents
A lot of people still like to sit down and talk to an agent and that can be a great decision Professional insurance agents will help you protect your assets and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of comparing rate quotes online is you can get the best rates and still buy from a local agent. And buying from small agencies is important especially in Scottsdale.
After completing this simple form, your coverage information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Scottsdale who want to provide quotes for your car insurance coverage. You won’t even need to visit any agencies because prices are sent to the email address you provide. If you want to quote rates from a particular provider, you can always jump over to their website and complete a quote there.
If you need to find a reliable insurance agency, it’s important to understand the types of insurance agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Scottsdale are considered either exclusive or independent. Both types of agents can handle car insurance, but it’s important to know the subtle differences because it can impact the selection process.
Independent Car Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents can sell policies from many different companies and that is an advantage because they can write policies with multiple insurance companies and get you the best rates possible. If your agent finds better pricing, they can switch companies in-house which requires no work on your part.
When shopping rates, you definitely need to contact several independent agencies to have the most options to choose from. Most have the option of insuring with mutual insurance companies that may have much lower rates than larger companies.
Shown below is a small list of independent agencies in Scottsdale that can give you price quote information.
- Greene Insurance Group
17470 N Pacesetter Way – Scottsdale, AZ 85255 – (480) 657-2800 – View Map - Palomino Insurance Agency
8889 E Bell Rd – Scottsdale, AZ 85260 – (480) 483-8000 – View Map - Scottsdale Insurance Home
20875 N Pima Rd – Scottsdale, AZ 85255 – (480) 712-0400 – View Map
Exclusive Car Insurance Agents
Exclusive agents work for only one company such as Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and AAA. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so keep that in mind. They receive a lot of sales training on their products and sales techniques and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Many people buy from exclusive agents partially due to the brand name rather than low price.
Below are exclusive insurance agencies in Scottsdale willing to provide price quote information.
- Jim Wurbel – State Farm Insurance Agent
10789 N 90th St Ste 101 – Scottsdale, AZ 85260 – (480) 860-1090 – View Map - Shelley Anderson – State Farm Insurance Agent
8080 E Gelding Dr d106 – Scottsdale, AZ 85260 – (480) 941-2257 – View Map - Brenda Wix – State Farm Insurance Agent
6401 E Thomas Rd Suite 102 – Scottsdale, AZ 85251 – (480) 994-9200 – View Map
Selecting a auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap quote. Here are some questions you might want to ask.
- When do they do a full risk review?
- What companies can they write with?
- What company holds the largest book of business for them?
- How long has the business existed?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Do they have cheaper tiers of coverage?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Scottsdale?
When in doubt talk to an agent
When choosing the right insurance coverage, there really isn’t a one size fits all plan. Your financial needs are unique and your policy should reflect that.
For instance, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
- Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
- What discounts do I qualify for?
- Should I rate my BMW 535i as pleasure use or commute?
- Is a blown tire covered by insurance?
- Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
- What does UM/UIM cover?
- Where can I find DUI or SR-22 insurance?
- Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
- Am I covered if I hit someone who is not insured?
If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Be persistent to save money
We’ve covered some good ideas how you can lower your BMW 535i insurance prices in Scottsdale. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of getting affordable BMW 535i insurance quotes. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest prices are with a small local company. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like Allstate and Progressive.
There are still a few companies who do not provide online quoting and most of the time these smaller providers provide coverage only through independent agents. Cheaper insurance in Scottsdale can be purchased from both online companies and with local Scottsdale insurance agents, and you should compare rates from both so you have a total pricing picture.
When searching for affordable Scottsdale car insurance quotes, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an insured cut liability coverage limits and learned later that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford.
To learn more, take a look at these articles:
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for a Nissan Altima in Scottsdale? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Toyota Camry in Scottsdale? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Scottsdale Car Insurance for Single Moms? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Scottsdale Car Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Sentra? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for Homeowners in Scottsdale? (FAQ)
- Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- Prom Night Tips for Teen Drivers (State Farm)