Compare Hawthorne Auto Insurance Prices With These Tricks

Are you intimidated by the number of auto insurance choices in Hawthorne? You're not alone. Drivers have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a lot of work to find the perfect company for you.

It's important to compare prices every six months since insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best deal on your last policy you can probably find a better price now. So just block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the only way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Understanding what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes some of the factors used by your company to calculate rates.

  • Being married is a good thing - Being married actually saves money on auto insurance. It translates into being more mature and it's proven that being married results in fewer claims.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? - The liability section of your policy provides coverage if ever a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide legal defense coverage starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system can thwart auto theft.
  • Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are a lot of extra coverages that you can buy if you aren't careful. Coverages like roadside assistance, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage are some examples. These coverages may sound good when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.
  • With age comes lower rates - Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Teenage drivers tend to be less responsible when behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • More than one policy can earn a discount - The majority of insurance companies will give a discount to people who carry more than one policy. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be 10 percent or more. Even with this discount, you still need to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money. Consumers may find a better deal by splitting coverages up.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance companies don't always list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

  • Sign Online - Certain companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application on their website.
  • Organization Discounts - Affiliation with certain professional organizations may earn a discount on auto insurance.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn't work that way.

To choose companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Hawthorne, click here.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you move your coverage to them. How do they all say the same thing?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and has great credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who fall outside the "perfect" profile will have to pay more money and this can result in business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That's the way insurance companies can advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, you should get as many comparisons as possible. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Additional detailed information is available at the New York Department of Financial Services website. New York drivers can get help finding coverage, find out which companies have the most complaints, and view a list of available companies.

Do the work, save more money

Affordable auto insurance is possible on the web as well as from independent agents in Hawthorne, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Drivers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium, extreme rates for teen drivers or even delays in responding to claim requests. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

When you buy insurance online, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.