Best Way to Find Cheaper Hampton Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the wide range of auto insurance companies in Hampton? Many other drivers are as well. Drivers have so many options available that it can turn into a lot of work to find the best price.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies don't list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both the well known as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

  • No Claims - Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Multi-car Discount - Having more than one vehicle on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Theft Prevention System - Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Low Mileage Discounts - Driving fewer miles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Homeowners Discount - Simply owning a home may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • No Charge for an Accident - A few companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a particular time prior to the accident.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.

Listed below are some of the items that factor into prices.

  • Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Careers like real estate brokers, architects and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average because of high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, jobs such as actors, athletes and homemakers pay the least.
  • Do you know your deductibles? - Your deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. 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 examples of claims that would be covered would be running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, or theft. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Most companies provide better rates to insureds who buy several policies from them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
  • Policy add-ons can waste money - There are many extra coverages that can waste your money when buying auto insurance. Coverages like personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and membership fees are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
  • Battle of the sexes - Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. They both cause accidents at a similar rate, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
  • High numbers of claims are not good - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Companies in Nebraska provide better rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Insurance coverage is intended for the large, substantial claims.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. They all say the same thing about savings if you switch your policy. How do they all claim to save you money?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer might be between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile receives the best rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will be quoted a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Learn more about Nebraska auto insurance

Even more information can be read at the Nebraska Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, report car insurance fraud, and read consumer alerts.

Final considerations

Consumers switch companies for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, lack of trust in their agent, policy non-renewal and even delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.

Cheaper auto insurance can be found both online in addition to many Hampton insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.