Tightwads Instructions on Saving on Maine Car Insurance

Sick and tired of being strong-armed each month for car insurance? You are no different than many other drivers in New York.

Lots of contend to insure your vehicles, so it's not easy to compare every to discover the definitive lowest price

It's important to compare rates before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to the fastest and easiest way to find great coverage at a great price.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there could be available discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be manually applied before you will receive the discount.

Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for better car insurance rates.
Use Seat Belts - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could save 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
No Accidents - Claim-free drivers pay much less as compared to drivers who are more careless.
More Vehicles More Savings - Having multiple cars or trucks on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
College Student - Children who are attending college without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will cut your premiums.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Understanding what influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Men fork out a little more - The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Both sexes cause accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
Never allow your policy to lapse - Driving with no insurance is against the law and car insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage have a gap. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but not being able to provide proof of insurance may earn you a steep fine or even jail time.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Jobs such as judges, architects and accountants tend to have higher rates than average attributed to high stress and long work days. On the flip side, jobs such as farmers, athletes and the unemployed receive lower rates.
Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage insurance, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply would be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and burglary. Your deductibles are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Older drivers pay less - Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel. Youthful drivers tend to be less responsible in a vehicle therefore car insurance rates are much higher.
More miles equals more premium - The more you drive every year the more you will pay for car insurance. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your car insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Do you have enough liability coverage? - The liability section of your policy will protect you if ever you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. These vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.

The car insurance bait and switch

Car insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads in print and on television. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you move to their company. How do they all claim to save you money?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. Any driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher premiums which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers should get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Learn more today

More information is located on the website for the New York Department of Financial Services through this link. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, and report car insurance fraud.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

As you shop your coverage around, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

Affordable car insurance is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood Maine agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.