Proven Ways to Save on Cattaraugus Auto Insurance

Have you had enough of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other New York drivers.

Drivers have multiple to pick from, and although it's a good thing to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to compare prices once or twice a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best price last year you may be paying too much now. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate one of the easiest ways to find better coverage at a better price.

Pricing the cheapest auto insurance coverage in Cattaraugus is quite easy. Just about every vehicle owner who is required by state law to have auto insurance stands a good chance to be able to lower their premiums. But New York vehicle owners do need to know how big insurance companies determine prices and apply this information to your search.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in Cattaraugus

Most major insurance companies like Allstate and Progressive give coverage prices online. Getting online quotes is quite simple as you simply enter the amount of coverage you want as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, their system will obtain credit information and your driving record and returns pricing information. This helps simplify price comparisons, but the time it takes to visit many different websites and complete many quote forms gets old quite quickly. But it's very important to compare as many rates as possible in order to get the best price on auto insurance.

The easy way to compare rates

A less time-consuming method to find cheaper rates requires only one form to return rates from several different companies. The form is fast, eliminates form submissions, and makes online price comparison much more efficient. After sending your information, your coverage is rated and you are able to buy any one of the returned quotes.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you simply finish the application and purchase the new policy. This process takes 15 minutes at the most and may result in a nice savings.

To quickly find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and input your coverage information. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you input the limits and deductibles identical to your current policy. This way, you're receiving rate quotes based on similar coverages.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

It's important that you understand some of the elements that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Bundling policies can get discounts - The majority of companies give discounts to people who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to shop around to ensure the best deal. Consumers may find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates - Insurance companies in New York provide lower rates to people who are claim-free. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Special features that cut premiums - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your car from being stolen.
The more you drive the more you pay - The more you drive every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.
Your spouse saves you money - Having a spouse actually saves money when buying auto insurance. Marriage means you're more mature than a single person and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Sex matters - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Women and men are in accidents in similar percentages, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI.
Traffic citations inflate rates - Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even a single moving violation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who get severe violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 form with the DMV in their state in order to drive a vehicle legally.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Car insurance is not cheap, but you can get discounts to help offset the cost. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but less common discounts must be asked for prior to getting the savings.

Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Drivers Education - Require your teen driver to take driver's ed class in high school.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% since new cars are generally safer.
Homeowners Pay Less - Being a homeowner may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
One Accident Forgiven - Certain companies permit an accident without raising rates if you are claim-free prior to the accident.
Good Students Pay Less - Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.
Club Memberships - Affiliation with a qualifying organization could qualify you for a break on your policy.
E-sign - Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will bring down the cost of coverage.

For a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in New York, follow this link.

Much more information about auto insurance in New York can be found on the website for the New York Department of Financial Services through this link. New York drivers can read consumer alerts, download brochures, view a list of available companies, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other useful links include BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this Cattaraugus agent directory.

Affordable insurance is out there

As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Discount auto insurance is possible on the web and also from your neighborhood Cattaraugus agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.