How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Car Insurance in Ronkonkoma

Have you had enough of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other drivers in New York. Big companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with ad campaigns and it can be hard to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to compare rates once or twice a year due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest rates two years ago you may be paying too much now. So forget all the misinformation about car insurance because I'm going to teach you the tricks you need to know to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

If you have a current car insurance policy or are looking for a new policy, you can use these techniques to find better prices while maintaining coverages. Finding affordable coverage in Ronkonkoma is quite easy. New York drivers only need an understanding of the most effective way to compare company rates over the internet.

How to Compare Car Insurance Costs in Ronkonkoma

There are several ways you can shop for car insurance but some are more efficient than others. You could spend your day talking to insurance agencies in Ronkonkoma, or you can utilize the web to get rates in a matter of minutes.

All the larger companies belong to an insurance system that allows shoppers to submit one quote, and at least one company then returns a price quote for coverage. This prevents consumers from doing form submissions to each individual car insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

The only drawback to getting quotes like this is you are unable to specify which companies you want to price. So if you want to select specific providers to compare rates, we have a listing of low cost car insurance companies in New York. Click to view list.

However you get your quotes, double check that you are using exactly the same quote information for each comparison quote. If you use mixed coverages it will be next to impossible to determine the lowest rate in Ronkonkoma.

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand the factors that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for car insurance. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your car insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder auto theft.
Being married is a good thing - Having a spouse can get you a discount on car insurance. It means you're more mature and responsible and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Older drivers save more - Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers. Youthful drivers are known to get distracted easily in a vehicle and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.
Women pay lower rates - The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar percentages, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are several times more likely to be in an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Bad driving skills means higher rates - Your driving citation history has a huge affect on how much you pay. Careful drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Even a single citation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Drivers who have flagrant citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance companies don't always advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we break down both the well known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you're just leaving money on the table.

Save with a New Car - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can save up to 30% since new cars are generally safer.
Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Ronkonkoma can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
College Student - Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
Senior Citizens - Older drivers may be able to get better car insurance rates.
Service Members Pay Less - Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
Air Bag Discount - Factory air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.

It's important to understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

For a list of companies who offer car insurance discounts in Ronkonkoma, click here.

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view a list of available companies, get help finding coverage, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

A tidy conclusion

When buying insurance coverage, it's not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

Low-cost car insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Ronkonkoma agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies may not provide online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.