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

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Trust us, there are lots of people in the same boat.

Big-name insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with ad campaigns and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to compare prices every six months because insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price last year you may be paying too much now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the internet, so I'm going to show you some great ways to slash your auto insurance rates.

If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to cut costs considerably using this information. Finding affordable coverage in Greenlawn is easy if you know what you're doing. But New York drivers do need to know the way companies compete online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Compare Quotes for Greenlawn Auto Insurance

The are a couple different ways of comparing rate quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The recommended way to find competitive insurance rates is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

The first (and easiest) way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This type of form prevents you from having to do separate forms for each company. Filling out one form will get you rate comparisons from several companies.

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online requires you to visit the website for each individual company to request a price quote. For instance, we'll assume you want to compare rates from , and . You would have to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Greenlawn, click here.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing exactly the same coverage information for each price quote. If you use unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Greenlawn. Slightly different insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. Just remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes will increase your chances of finding the best offered rates.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

It's important that you understand the factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

The following are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Pleasure use saves money - Driving more miles in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars that are left in the garage receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Do you know your deductibles? - Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be a windshield shattered by a rock, collision with an animal, or theft. The deductibles are how much you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
Men pay higher rates - Statistics demonstrate women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Men and women have accidents in similar numbers, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
Theft deterrents lower rates - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are a ton of extra coverages that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Having a spouse can save you money - Having a wife or husband can get you a discount on auto insurance. It means you're more mature than a single person and it's proven that being married results in fewer claims.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies don't list all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we researched both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

Life Insurance Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with better rates if you take out life insurance from them.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Save over 55 - Older drivers may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
Drivers Ed for Students - Require your teen driver to complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
Sign Online - Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
Club Memberships - Participating in a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount on auto insurance.
Service Members Pay Less - Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
Discount for Good Grades - Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.

Consumers should know that some credits don't apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don't profit that way.

For a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Greenlawn, click here.

More detailed New York auto insurance information is located at the New York Department of Financial Services website. New York consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, and view a list of available companies.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

As you prepare to switch companies, it's not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, someone sacrificed collision coverage and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.

Discount auto insurance can be bought online and also from your neighborhood Greenlawn agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.