Tightwads Guide for Saving on Ticonderoga Car Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me, many Ticonderoga consumers feel financially strained by their car insurance policy. Companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with TV and radio ads and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to get comparison quotes every six months because rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. So block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you're going to learn the proper way to save on car insurance.

Save big with these discounts

Companies do not list every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list some of the more common and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance. If you aren't receiving every discount possible, you are throwing money away.

  • Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Multiple Vehicles - Insuring multiple vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
  • Homeowners Discount - Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
  • Military Discounts - Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts up to 30%.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn't work that way.

Ticonderoga car insurance quote

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that help determine your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

The following are some of the factors that factor into your rates.

  • How many coverages with the same company - Many car insurance companies give discounts to policyholders who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even with this discount, it's in your best interest to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? - Liability coverage provides coverage in the event that you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Discounts for married couples - Being married can get you a discount on your car insurance policy. Marriage usually means you are more mature it has been statistically shown that being married results in fewer claims.
  • Safer cars are cheaper to insure - Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and more competitive rates for policyholders.
  • Clean credit earns discounts - Your credit history is a huge factor in calculating your car insurance rates. So if your credit rating is not that good, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than those with lower credit scores.
  • Occupation reflects on rates - Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations like doctors, executives and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates in part from high stress and lengthy work days. Other professions such as actors, historians and performers pay the least.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings from companies such as Allstate and Progressive. All the ads make the same claim that you can save after switching your policy.

How can each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk could be over the age of 40, has no driving citations, and has excellent credit. A customer who matches those parameters will get very good rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who fall outside the requirements will be charged higher premiums which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That's the way insurance companies can make those claims. That is why drivers should compare many company's rates. Because you never know which car insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Additional detailed information is available at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Consumers can read consumer alerts, find out which companies have the most complaints, get help finding coverage, and find disaster information.

A tidy conclusion

While you're price shopping online, it's not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to find out they didn't purchase enough coverage. The aim is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Affordable car insurance can be sourced from both online companies in addition to many Ticonderoga insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.