How to Know You're Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Fairport

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say many Fairport consumers feel financially strained by their auto insurance policy. Numerous battle to insure your vehicles, so it can be very hard to choose a to discover the definitive lowest price

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there could be available discounts that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied before being credited. If they aren't giving you every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

Clubs and Organizations - Participating in certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when buying auto insurance.
Multiple Cars - Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
Discount for New Cars - Insuring a new car is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Student Driver Training - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver's education if offered at their school.
No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially when compared with drivers who are more careless.

It's important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free auto insurance policy, you're out of luck. But any discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in better auto insurance rates.

Liability insurance protects assets - Your policy's liability coverage provides coverage if a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Do you know your deductibles? - Your deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and burglary. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
Lower miles equals lower premium - The higher the mileage driven in a year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on their usage. Vehicles that are left in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle.
Small claims can cost you - Auto insurance companies in New York provide better rates to drivers who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Car insurance is designed for the large, substantial claims.
Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Occupations such as lawyers, architects and accountants tend to have higher rates than average in part from high stress and long work hours. On the flip side, occupations like actors, athletes and retirees receive lower rates.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your car from being stolen.

Is there truth in advertising?

New York consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings by Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing that you can save if you change to their company.

How do they all make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer could possibly be a mature driver, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile must pay higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

This illustrates why drivers should quote coverage with many companies. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

More information can be found on the website for the New York Department of Financial Services. Click here for link. New York consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, report car insurance fraud, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and download brochures.

And the best car insurance company is...

Lower-priced auto insurance can be sourced online and also from your neighborhood Fairport agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.