How to Know You're Wasting Money for Car Insurance in Clay

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us, you are not the only one feeling buyer's remorse.

Numerous battle for your business, so it can be very hard to choose a to discover the definitive lowest rate

If you have car insurance now, you will be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Clay is easy if you know what you're doing. But New York car owners do need to know the methods companies use to sell insurance online because it can help you find the best coverage.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Equipment add-ons that lower car insurance rates - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
Do you know your deductibles? - The deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, and windstorm damage. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your car insurance will be.
How's your driving record? - A bad driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Careful drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Even a single ticket can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. If you have serious violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are many extra coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages like personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and term life insurance are some examples. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money get rid of them and save.
Proper usage rating affects rates - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your car insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Too many car insurance claims drive up costs - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Companies in New York generally give better rates to people who are claim-free. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.

More discounts equal less premium

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there could be available discounts that you may not even be aware of. Most are applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few must be asked for prior to getting the savings.

Payment Discounts - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Homeowners Discount - Simply owning a home can save you money because owning a home shows financial diligence.
Passive Restraint Discount - Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings of more than 20%.
Defensive Driver - Completing a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
Discount for Good Grades - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
New Car Discount - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay much less when compared to accident-prone drivers.
Student Driver Training - Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver's ed class in school.
Federal Government Employee - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with a few car insurance companies.
55 and Retired - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for better car insurance rates.

Drivers should understand that some credits don't apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will cut your premiums.

To choose insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Clay, click here.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. They all have a common claim that you'll save big if you switch to their company. How do they all make the same claim?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could be over the age of 40, has no driving citations, and has great credit. A customer that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who do not match the "perfect" profile will be quoted a more expensive rate and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's the way companies can advertise the savings.

This emphasizes why you should get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Much more information about car insurance in New York is located on the website for the New York Department of Financial Services located here. Consumers can view a list of available companies, report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, and discover disciplinary actions.

Shop smart and save

Budget-conscious car insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Clay agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

We just showed you a lot of ways to save on car insurance. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the lowest premiums are with some of the lesser-known companies. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates as compared to the big name companies such as .