Top Ways to Save on Inwood Auto Insurance

Have you had enough of being strong-armed each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in New York.

Consumers have many to pick from, and although it's a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare rates before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best rates two years ago you can probably find a better price now. Don't believe everything you read about auto insurance on the internet, so I'm going to show you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

The purpose of this article is to let you in on the most effective way to quote insurance and some tips to save money. If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Although New York drivers do need to know how companies price online insurance.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Listed below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • Battle of the sexes - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Men and women cause accidents at a similar rate, but the males cause more damage. They also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
  • Small claims can cost you - Car insurance companies in New York generally give lower rates to insureds who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • How credit affects auto insurance rates - Credit score is a big factor in your rate calculation. Therefore, if your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit.
  • Where do you drive? - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars that are left in the garage get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.
  • Bump up deductibles to save - Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, and burglary. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are many extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for personal injury protection, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These may sound like a good investment initially, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
  • Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Just one ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
  • Your job and insurance rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as real estate brokers, social workers and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates due to high stress levels and long work hours. Conversely, jobs such as farmers, engineers and homemakers receive lower rates.

Inwood auto insurance comparison

Don't pay full price with these discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there could be available discounts that many people don't even know exist. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for before you get the savings.

  • Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
  • Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
  • Multi-car Discount - Having more than one vehicle with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Drive Less and Save - Driving fewer miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
  • Defensive Driver - Taking a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if your company offers it.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down your premiums.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in New York, click here.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you switch to their company. How does each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Drivers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's why companies can truthfully state the savings.

Because of the profiling, you should get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Additional information can be read on the website for the New York Department of Financial Services found here. New York consumers can learn about insurance regulations, download brochures, find out industry alerts, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other informative sites include this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Inwood.

Do the work, save more money

When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don't buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced full coverage and found out when filing a claim that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price.

The cheapest auto insurance can be found online and also from your neighborhood Inwood agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.