How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Greenvale

No one likes paying for auto insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high.

Numerous battle to insure your vehicles, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the absolute lowest rate

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance companies don't always list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find both the well known and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance.

Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Greenvale may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Good Student - Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Paperless Signup - Certain companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application on their website.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Fewer annual miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Accident Forgiveness - A few companies permit an accident before your rates go up so long as you haven't had any claims prior to the accident.

It's important to note that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you're out of luck.

What determines how much you pay?

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

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

What are your deductibles? - Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, or theft. The higher the amount you're willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
Cautious drivers pay less - Good drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Only having one speeding ticket can increase rates twenty percent or more. Drivers with flagrant tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
Being married can save on auto insurance - Having a spouse can get you a discount on your auto insurance policy. Having a spouse is viewed as being more mature and it's statistically proven that married couples file fewer claims.
Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are a ton of additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying auto insurance. Coverages like personal injury protection, accidental death and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. These coverages may sound good at first, but if you don't need them get rid of them and save.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in New York?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. All the companies make the same claim that you can save after switching to them. How do they all claim to save you money?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile must pay a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know which company will fit your personal profile best.

Additional New York consumer information

Additional detailed information can be found at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, get help finding coverage, and discover disciplinary actions.

Affordable insurance is out there

Lower-priced auto insurance can be sourced both online and with local Greenvale insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We covered many ideas to reduce auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the lowest rates come from an unexpected company. Regional companies often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as .