Tightwads Tips for Saving on Catskill Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your bank account, especially in this economy. Doing a price comparison is free and is an excellent way to help make ends meet. Drivers have so many to pick from, and even though it's nice to have multiple companies, too many choices makes it more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare prices quite often because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best rates a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Don't believe everything you read about auto insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Catskill is easy if you know what you're doing. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. New York vehicle owners just need to know how to find the lowest price online.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

College Student - Any of your kids living away from home attending college and do not have a car may be able to be covered for less.
Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Good Student Discount - Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
Auto/Life Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Drive Less and Save - Driving fewer miles could qualify for better rates on cars that stay parked.
Multi-car Discount - Having more than one vehicle on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Lower Rates for Military - Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
Own a Home - Owning a house in Catskill may earn you a small savings because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents pay less as compared to drivers who are more careless.
Clubs and Organizations - Participating in a qualifying organization could trigger savings on auto insurance.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn't make money that way.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with big savings.

Listed below are some of the items used by your company to calculate rates.

Older drivers pay less - Teen drivers in New York are statistically proven to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Having to add a teenage driver onto a policy can be quite pricey. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Traffic violations increase rates - Just one ticket can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don't get tickets have lower premiums than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations such as DUI or reckless driving may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.
Increase deductibles and save - Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims could be a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, and burglary. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more expense you have to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
Pleasure use saves money - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Autos not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you could use an agent's help.

Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Catskill?
Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Should I buy only the required New York minimum liability coverage?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can help protect your family.

The auto insurance bait and switch

New York consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to make the same claim that you'll save big if you switch your coverage to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. A driver who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when switching.

Drivers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay a higher premium which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

More sites with auto insurance information

More detailed New York auto insurance information can be read at the New York Department of Financial Services website. New York consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about a company, find disaster information, and report car insurance fraud.

Also read more on this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Catskill.

And the best car insurance company is...

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced full coverage and found out when filing a claim that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford.

In this article, we presented many ideas to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even find the lowest premiums are with a small local company. Regional companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates as compared to the big name companies such as .

Budget-conscious auto insurance is available online as well as from independent agents in Catskill, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.