Tightwads Guide for Saving on Thornwood Auto Insurance

Are you tired 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 constantly blast consumers with advertising and it is difficult to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It's important to do rate comparisons before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best rates last year you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance online, so we're going to give you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Finding the best rates in Thornwood is not that difficult. New York consumers only need to know the most efficient way to buy auto insurance on the web.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Thornwood

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the items companies use to determine your rates.

Multiple policies with one company can save - Some companies give discounts to insureds who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
Your stress level may be raising your rates - Occupations like real estate brokers, architects and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates because of high stress levels and long work days. Other occupations such as farmers, historians and retirees have the lowest average rates.
Better crash test results mean better rates - Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Theft deterrents lower rates - Driving a car with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder your car from being stolen.
Men are more aggressive - The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. Now that doesn't mean women are better drivers. Both sexes are in accidents at a similar rate, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
Your credit rating is important - Your credit score is a important factor in your rate calculation. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower credit ratings. If your credit score is low, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - The higher the mileage driven every year the higher your rates will be. Most companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle.
Do you need the policy add-ons? - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles you can purchase when buying auto insurance. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, better glass coverage and motor club memberships are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies that sell car insurance don't list every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of both the well known as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you are paying more than you should be.

Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
Accident Free - Claim-free drivers pay less compared to accident-prone drivers.
Low Mileage - Low mileage vehicles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
One Accident Forgiven - A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a set time period.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out life insurance.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

To choose providers with discount auto insurance rates in Thornwood, follow this link.

How can Allstate and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Consumers in New York can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Allstate and Progressive. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you change to them.

How can each company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. A good example of a preferred risk might be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Drivers who are not a match for the requirements will be charged higher premiums which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save money. That's why companies can truthfully claim big savings. That is why you should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more today

Even more information can be read at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, read industry bulletins, find disaster information, and view a list of available companies.

And the best car insurance company is...

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, an accident victim reduced full coverage and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

The cheapest auto insurance is attainable both online and with local Thornwood insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies do not offer online price quotes and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.