Best Way to Find the Cheapest Hartford Auto Insurance

If online auto insurance comparisons are new to you, you may be confused due to the large number of auto insurance companies competing for business in Hartford.

It's important to shop coverage around occasionally because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best rates last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to save money.

If you have insurance now or need a new policy, you can follow these tips to find the best rates while maintaining coverages. The purpose of this post is to introduce you to the most effective way to quote insurance and some tips to save money. Wisconsin drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to shop their coverage around online.

More discounts equal less premium

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be asked for before you get the savings. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you're paying more than you need to.

  • Bundle and Save - When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
  • Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing digitally online.
  • Defensive Driver - Taking part in a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • College Student - Children living away from home attending college and do not have a car may be able to be covered for less.
  • Theft Prevention System - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your premiums.

To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Hartford, follow this link.

Wisconsin auto insurance quotes

Hartford Auto Insurance Quote Comparison

Most companies quote coverage price quotes on the web. This process is fairly simple as you just type in your coverage preferences into the quote form. Once you submit the form, the system will obtain credit information and your driving record and gives you a price quote based on these and other factors.

Online quotes streamlines rate comparisons, but the process of having to visit many different websites and complete many quote forms is not the best way to spend an afternoon. Unfortunately, it is important to have as many quotes as possible if you are searching for a lower rate.

The preferred way to get multiple rate quotes uses one form that obtains quotes from a lot of companies. It's a real time-saver, eliminates form submissions, and makes online shopping much easier to do. Immediately after submitting the form, it is quoted and you can choose your choice of the price quotes you receive.

If a lower price is quoted, you can click and sign and purchase coverage. It can be completed in less than 10 minutes and may result in a nice savings.

To find out how much you're overpaying now, click here and submit your coverage information. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you complete the form with deductibles and limits identical to your current policy. This makes sure you will be getting a fair comparison based on the exact same insurance coverage.

Tips to Get Lower Hartford Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with big savings.

Listed below are some of the items used by your company to calculate rates.

  • Where you live is a factor - Living in less populated areas can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate. Urban drivers have much more traffic to deal with and a longer drive to work. More time commuting translates into higher accident risk.
  • High credit ratings translate to low rates - Credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than drivers with poor credit.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Owning a car with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system can help prevent your car from being stolen.
  • Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are many additional coverages that you can buy when buying auto insurance. Insurance for personal injury protection, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

It's not one size fits all

When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different.

Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if you would benefit from an agent's advice.

  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • What are Wisconsin no-fault laws?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Consumers in Wisconsin can't get away from ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing of big savings if you switch your coverage to them.

How can each company claim to save you money?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured might be between 25 and 40, owns a home, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who do not match the requirements will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. That is how insurance companies can confidently claim big savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which company will give you the biggest savings.

A tidy conclusion

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an insured cut full coverage and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford.

We covered a lot of information how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a small local company.

Cost effective auto insurance is available both online as well as from independent agents in Hartford, so you should compare both to have the best selection. A few companies don't offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

Hartford auto insurance quote

For more Wisconsin car insurance information

Additional auto insurance information can be read on the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance website located here. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, find out industry alerts, and view a list of available companies.