Tightwads Guide to Saving on Oswego Car Insurance

Paying for high-priced car insurance can drain your personal savings, especially in this economy. Comparison shopping is free and is an excellent way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

Having so many car insurance companies to choose from, it can be impossible to find the right company.

Tips to Get Lower Oswego Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.

Listed below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate prices.

  • Your car's features help determine rates - Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Teen drivers pay high rates - Young drivers in New York are statistically proven to be careless and easily distracted when driving so car insurance rates are higher. If you've ever had to add a young driver onto a policy can really hurt. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.
  • What type of vehicle do you drive? - The performance of the car you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in determining your rates. The most favorable rates are generally reserved for lower performance four cylinder passenger models, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
  • Tickets mean higher rates - Drivers who don't get tickets receive lower rates than bad drivers. Only having one moving violation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. If you have serious violations such as DUI or reckless driving may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
  • One company can mean more discounts - Most car insurance companies provide better rates to policyholders who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money.

compare Oswego car insurance rates

How to Buy Oswego Car Insurance Online

There are several ways to compare car insurance quotes, but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance agencies in Oswego, or you can utilize online quotes for quick rates.

Most of the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace that allows shoppers to only type in their quote data once, and each company provides a quote based on the submitted data. This system prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions to each individual car insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The only downside to getting quotes like this is you are unable to specify which providers to get quotes from. So if you want to choose individual companies to compare rates, we put together a list of low cost car insurance companies in New York. Click here for list of insurance companies in New York.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples coverages and limits for every quote you compare. If you enter different deductibles it will be next to impossible to determine the best price in Oswego. Having just a slight variation in coverages may result in large price differences. And when comparison shopping, comparing more company's prices gives you a better chance of getting a lower rate.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies do not list every discount very well, so here is a list some of the more common and the more hidden ways to save on car insurance.

  • Payment Discounts - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
  • New Car Discount - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
  • Early Signing - A few companies offer discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
  • Anti-theft System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Paperwork-free - Some insurance companies will give a small break for buying your policy online.
  • Low Mileage Discounts - Driving fewer miles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky.

To choose insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in New York, click this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all make the same claim about savings if you switch your coverage to them. But how can every company make the same claim?

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a driver they prefer could be a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any new insured who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will be quoted higher prices which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no "perfect" insurance plan. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions may help you determine whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
  • Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
  • Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Even more information is available at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Consumers can view a list of available companies, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, learn about specific coverages, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include this page for car insurance prices in New York and this list of insurance agents in Oswego, NY.

Oswego car insurance comparison

Final considerations

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

You just learned many ideas to compare car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the best price on car insurance is with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like .