Proven Ways to Save on Clifton Springs Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can drain your checking account, especially in this economy. Comparing price quotes is a smart way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket. Because you have many choices of insurance companies, it can be impossible to find the right provider.

It's important to compare rates yearly because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best deal six months ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the only way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Finding the best rates in Clifton Springs is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using this strategy. New York drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to shop for auto insurance online.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Listed below are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

How credit affects auto insurance rates - Your credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with poor credit.
Where you live is a factor - Residing in a rural area has it's advantages when insuring your vehicles. City drivers regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
What type of vehicle do you drive? - The performance of the car you drive makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. The most favorable rates are for lower performance four cylinder passenger vehicles, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Even a single speeding ticket can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Higher deductibles cost less - Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.

Compare Auto Insurance Today

All major auto insurance companies quote prices online. This process is quite easy as you simply enter your required coverages as detailed in the form. After the form is submitted, the company's rating system will obtain your credit score and driving record and gives you a price quote. This simplifies rate comparisons, but the process of having to visit each company's website and repetitively fill out multiple forms is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it's very important to perform this step if you are searching for better auto insurance pricing.

The preferred way to compare auto insurance pricing uses one form to return rates from multiple companies. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes online shopping much easier to do. Once the form is submitted, it is quoted and you can choose any or none of the resulting price quotes. If the quotes result in lower rates, you can click and sign and buy the policy. It takes just a few minutes to complete and may result in a nice savings.

To find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and enter your information. If you have a policy now, it's recommended you input coverages and limits identical to your current policy. This makes sure you will be getting comparison quotes for the exact same coverage.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise every available discount very well, so here is a list both well-publicized and the more hidden auto insurance savings. If you don't get every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
Early Signing - A few companies offer discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Good Student Discount - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
Multi-car Discount - Buying coverage for more than one vehicle with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
E-sign - Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing online.
Low Mileage - Driving fewer miles can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Defensive Driver - Completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in New York, follow this link.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

New York consumers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings by Allstate and Progressive. All the ads say the same thing of big savings if you switch to their company.

But how can every company make almost identical claims?

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk could possibly be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and has a high credit rating. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who are not a match for this ideal profile will be charged higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently state the savings. That is why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Different people need different coverages

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Each situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions can help discover whether you would benefit from an agent's advice.

Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
What are the best liability limits?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in New York?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the New York Department of Financial Services website. New York consumers can find out industry alerts, view agent and company licensing information, learn about specific coverages, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this directory of Clifton Springs insurance agents.

In the end, you save

As you restructure your insurance plan, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that they should have had better coverage. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

You just read many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as .

Cost effective auto insurance is available online and also from your neighborhood Clifton Springs agents, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.