Tightwads Guide to Saving on North Bellmore Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your checking account and put a big crunch on your finances. Comparison shopping is free and is an excellent way to make sure you're not throwing money away.

With consumers having so many auto insurance companies to choose from, it is very difficult to locate the cheapest car insurance company.

It's important to check auto insurance prices yearly because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best price on your last policy you will most likely find a better rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're about to learn how to use online quotes to find better coverage at a better price.

Finding affordable coverage in North Bellmore is not that difficult. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Although New York drivers do need to know how companies sell online and apply this information to your search.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't list all their discounts very well, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance.

Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy life insurance.
Accident Waiver - Some insurance companies permit an accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a set time period.
Driver Safety - Successfully completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
Good Student Discount - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Sign Online - A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy online.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Payment Method - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can help discover whether or not you would benefit from an agent's advice.

When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
What are the financial responsibility laws in New York?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in New York?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?

If it's difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Is there truth in advertising?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make the same claim about savings after switching to them. But how can every company make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and has great credit. A driver who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will have to pay higher premiums which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Learn more about auto insurance in New York

Even more information can be found at the New York Department of Financial Services website. New York consumers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, learn about insurance regulations, and file complaints about a company.

Also read more on Wikipedia and this page where you can research North Bellmore insurance agents.

Final considerations

When you buy insurance online, don't be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.

The cheapest auto insurance can be sourced online and with local North Bellmore insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

In this article, we presented many ideas to reduce auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the most savings is with an unexpected company. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like .