Easy Tips to Cut Costs on Congers Auto Insurance

Finding lower rates for Congers auto insurance is challenging for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. There are so many options that it can turn into a lot of work to find lower rates in Congers.

It's important to check auto insurance prices before your policy renews since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're about to learn the tricks you need to know to find great coverage at a great price.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine rates.

Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, vandalism, or theft. The deductibles are how much you are required to spend in the event of a claim. The higher the amount you're willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
More claims means more premium - Car insurance companies in New York generally give discounts to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Big city or small town - Being located in less populated areas can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Urban drivers regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers means fewer accidents.
Better credit means lower rates - Credit history is a large factor in your rate calculation. If your credit is not that good, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have lower credit scores.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.
Traffic citations inflate rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one moving violation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Good drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
Liability coverage protects you - Liability coverage will protect you if ever a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. It provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not skimp.
Discounts for multiple policies - Many insurance companies will give a discount to people who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.

Cheap Congers Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways you can shop for auto insurance but there is one way that is more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon talking to agents in Congers, or you can utilize online quoting for quick rates.

Most of the larger companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to complete one form, and at least one company then gives them pricing for coverage. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to using this type of system is that you can't choose which providers you want pricing from. So if you prefer to pick specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we put together a list of low cost auto insurance companies in New York. Click to view list.

However you get your quotes, ensure you're using apples-to-apples information on every quote. If you use higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to make a fair comparison in Congers. Slightly different coverages can make a big difference in price. And when price shopping your coverage, quoting more gives you a better chance of getting the best price.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there are discounts available to reduce the price significantly. Most are applied when you complete an application, but less common discounts must be manually applied before they will apply.

Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Congers can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
Air Bag Discount - Factory air bags can receive discounts of 20% or more.
Military Rewards - Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
Good Students Pay Less - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in New York, click here.

Is there truth in advertising?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim about savings after switching to them. But how can every company say the same thing?

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will have to pay higher rates and this can result in business not being written. The ads state "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's why companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings.

Because of the profiling, you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Additional information can be found on the New York Department of Financial Services website through this link. New York drivers can report car insurance fraud, download brochures, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other informative sites include this page for New York auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in Congers, NY.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Cheap auto insurance can be purchased on the web and with local Congers insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Drivers change insurance companies for many reasons like an unsatisfactory settlement offer, high rates after DUI convictions, policy non-renewal or even poor customer service. Regardless of your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider is easier than you think.

As you shop your coverage around, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate.