How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Clayton

No one looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially knowing the price is too high. Big-name insurance companies like GEICO and Progressive all claim big savings with advertising and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

If you have insurance now or need a new policy, you can follow these tips to find better prices while maximizing coverage. Finding the best rates in Clayton is easy if you know what you're doing. New York vehicle owners just need to know the most effective way to shop for auto insurance online.

Vehicle Insurance Comparison

Most companies give prices on their websites. Getting online quotes is quite easy as you just enter your personal and coverage information as detailed in the form. When the form is submitted, their system will obtain your credit score and driving record and provides a quote based on these and other factors. Online quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but the work required to visit many different websites and complete many quote forms can be a bit repetitive. But it's very important to have as many quotes as possible in order to get better auto insurance pricing.

A quicker way to compare rates requires only one form to get prices from multiple companies. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes online quotes much easier. As soon as the form is sent, your coverage is rated and you can choose your choice of the quotes returned. If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase coverage. This process only takes a few minutes and may result in a nice savings.

To quickly find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and submit the form. If you have a policy now, it's recommended you type in identical to your current policy. This ensures you will have rate quotes for similar insurance coverage.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies don't list all available discounts in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list some of the best known and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you're paying more than you need to.

  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Clayton can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home requires personal responsibility.
  • Early Signing - A few companies offer discounts for signing up before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
  • Auto/Home Discount - When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
  • No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts when compared with bad drivers.
  • Payment Discounts - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
  • Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with better rates if you take out life insurance.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Memberships - Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance.
  • Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

To see a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Clayton, click here to view.

Different people need different coverages

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help highlight whether you would benefit from professional advice.

  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
  • Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?

If you're not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Additional New York consumer information

More detailed New York auto insurance information is available at the New York Department of Financial Services website. New York drivers can report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, read consumer alerts, and read industry bulletins.