8 Shopping Tips Guaranteed to Save Money on Car Insurance Costs in Allenstown

I can't think of anyone who looks forward to paying for car insurance, especially when their premiums are through the roof. Big companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive persitently shower you with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to check car insurance prices periodically since rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest rates six months ago a different company probably has better rates today. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because we're going to show you the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you are insured now or are shopping for new coverage, you can learn to get lower rates and still get good coverage. Finding affordable coverage in Allenstown is quite easy. New Hampshire drivers only need an understanding of the proper methods to compare company rates online.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically prior to receiving the credit. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

Sign Early and Save - Select companies give a discount for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. It can save you around 10%.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
Accident Free - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially compared to drivers who are more careless.
Military Rewards - Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
Anti-lock Brakes - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
Multi-policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with one company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
Federal Employees - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.

It's important to understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce the amount you have to pay.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a "perfect" insurance plan. Everyone's situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you might need professional guidance.

Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and may give you better protection.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by companies like State Farm and Allstate. All the ads have a common claim of big savings if you move to them.

How can each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a preferred risk could be between 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the requirements will be charged higher prices and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That is how insurance companies can confidently state the savings.

That is why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. It's just too difficult to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Additional New Hampshire consumer information

Additional car insurance information can be found on the website for the New Hampshire Insurance Department. Click here for link. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, find out industry alerts, read industry bulletins, and view a list of available companies.

In the end, you save

You just learned a lot of techniques to reduce car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with a smaller regional carrier. Regional companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like .

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.