Easy Methods to Cut Costs on Lowville Auto Insurance

Searching for the most affordable Lowville auto insurance online is somewhat difficult for people who are new to comparison shopping online. With so many choices of online companies available, how can consumers possibly compare them all to find the cheapest available price?

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in big savings.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.

  • Do you need those extra coverages? - There are a lot of add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for roadside assistance, accidental death and motor club memberships are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
  • Men fork out a little more - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. They both tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations such as judges, social workers and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates because of high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, professions such as pilots, engineers and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
  • Teen drivers pay high rates - Teen drivers in New York tend to get distracted easily when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. If you've ever had to add a teen driver to your policy can be quite pricey. More mature drivers are more responsible, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
  • Increase deductibles and save - The deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims could be colliding with a building, vandalism, and burglary. The more you're willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.

auto insurance in Lowville

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in Lowville, New York

Reducing your insurance rates is actually quite simple. You just have to take the time comparing rates online with multiple companies. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

  1. The fastest way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This type of form prevents you from having to do repetitive form entry to each individual auto insurance company. One form gets you coverage quotes direct from many companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
  2. A more difficult way to get quotes online consists of going to the website for every company you want to comare to request a price quote. For sake of this example, let's assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company's site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is more popular.

    To view a list of companies in Lowville, click here.

Whichever method you choose, make darn sure you compare identical coverages for each price quote. If each company quotes different limits and deductibles on each one it's not possible to truly determine the lowest rate in Lowville.

Save big with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always publicize all available discounts very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Defensive Driving Course - Taking part in a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
  • Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
  • Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.
  • Own a Home - Owning a home in Lowville can save you money because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
  • Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Good Student Discount - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don't apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky.

To choose insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in New York, click here.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

New York consumers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings by companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies have a common claim about savings if you move to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Drivers who fall outside these standards must pay higher premiums and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save money. This is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation might need an agent's assistance.

  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
  • Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Even more information is located at the New York Department of Financial Services website. New York consumers can discover disciplinary actions, learn about insurance regulations, and read industry bulletins.

Lowville auto insurance comparison

Best coverage at the best price

Cheaper auto insurance is definitely available online and with local Lowville insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not offer online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.

Drivers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as delays in responding to claim requests, denial of a claim, high rates after DUI convictions or even not issuing a premium refund. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.