Top Ways to Save on East Setauket Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can drain your savings account and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparison shopping is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to lower your monthly bill. Big companies like GEICO and Progressive constantly blast consumers with TV and radio ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to shop coverage around on a regular basis because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest rates last year a different company probably has better rates today. So ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or need new coverage, you can learn to find the best rates while maintaining coverages. Buying car insurance in East Setauket is not that difficult. New York consumers only need to know the best way to get comparison rates over the internet.

Save big with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we break down both the well known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you are throwing money away.

  • College Student - Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
  • Accident Waiver - A handful of insurance companies allow you one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Save with a New Car - Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
  • Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially as compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Sign Online - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy digitally online.
  • Driver Safety - Completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
  • Own a Home - Owning a house in East Setauket can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

East Setauket auto insurance comparison

Tips to Get Lower East Setauket Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

  • Older drivers pay less - More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Youthful drivers are known to be more careless when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • Pay less after the wedding - Having a spouse can get you a discount on your policy. It translates into being more responsible and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Where do you drive? - Driving more miles in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage.
  • Do you have a high stress job? - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Jobs such as lawyers, business owners and dentists have the highest average rates due to high stress levels and lengthy work days. Other professions such as pilots, historians and performers get better rates.
  • Policy add-ons can waste money - There are a ton of add-on coverages that you can buy when buying auto insurance. Insurance for roadside assistance, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • High deductibles save money - Insurance for physical damage to your car, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, and windstorm damage. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount you have to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Consumers in New York get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings after switching your coverage to them.

How can each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured might be between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who fall outside the requirements will have to pay higher prices and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

For more New York auto insurance information

Even more information can be found at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, get help finding coverage, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and read industry bulletins.

A tidy conclusion

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price.

The cheapest auto insurance can be purchased both online as well as from independent agents in East Setauket, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.