Proven Ways to Save on Endicott Car Insurance

Overpriced car insurance can take a big chunk out of your bank account and make it hard to pay other bills. Shopping your coverage around is a great way to make sure you're not throwing money away.

Companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with ads and it can be hard to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to compare prices quite often due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Starting now, ignore everything you know about car insurance because I'm going to teach you the proper way to find lower rates on car insurance.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

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

Discounts for multiple policies - Most insurance companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be 10 percent or more. Even with this discount, you may still want to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
Teen drivers pay high rates - More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Youthful drivers are statistically proven to be less responsible when driving and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.
Car features impact rates - Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping auto theft.
Being married is a good thing - Being married can actually save you money on car insurance. Marriage means you're more mature and it's statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Do you have enough liability coverage? - Liability insurance is the protection in the event that you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.

How to Buy Endicott Car Insurance Online

There are several ways of comparing rates from local Endicott car insurance companies. One of the best ways to compare insurance prices is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

The fastest way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This type of form keeps you from doing repetitive form entry for every car insurance company. One form compares rates direct from many companies.
A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online is going to the website for each individual company and complete a new quote form. For instance, let's say you want comparison quotes from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your information, which is why most consumers use the first method.

To view a list of companies in Endicott, click here.
The most time-consuming way to compare rates is to waste gas driving to insurance agents' offices. Buying insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you prefer the professional advice of a local agent. It is possible to find lower rates online and still use a local agent and you'll learn how to do that later.

However you get your quotes, make darn sure you compare exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote. If your comparisons have different liability limits it will be impossible to make a fair comparison in Endicott. Slightly different limits may cause a big price difference. And when comparison shopping, obtaining a wide range of quotes will increase your chances of finding the best rates.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance companies don't always publicize every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both the well known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.

Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
Resident Student - Youth drivers who live away from home and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.
Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Payment Discounts - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
E-sign - Certain companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application digitally online.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn't work that way.

To choose providers offering car insurance discounts in Endicott, click here.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Companies like Allstate and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. All the ads have a common claim that you can save if you switch to their company. How can each company claim to save you money?

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk might be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. Any driver that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who fall outside the requirements will be charged higher rates and this can result in the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. This is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. That is why you need to get as many comparisons as possible. You cannot predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation might need an agent's assistance.

Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in New York?
What are New York no-fault laws?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Endicott?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?

If you can't answer these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Additional detailed information is available at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, view a list of available companies, and get help finding coverage.

Final considerations

As you shop your coverage around, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The aim is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Affordable car insurance can be found both online and also from your neighborhood Endicott agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not provide online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.