Tightwads Guide for Saving on Utica 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 New York drivers.

Companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with advertising and it can be hard to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to compare prices before your policy renews because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best rates six months ago you may be paying too much now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance online, so we're going to give you some great ways to slash your auto insurance rates.

Cheap Utica Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways you can shop for auto insurance but some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You could spend your day talking about coverages with insurance companies in Utica, or you can utilize the internet to get rates in a matter of minutes.

All the larger companies belong to a marketplace that allows shoppers to complete one form, and each participating company can give them a price. This prevents consumers from doing quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.

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

The one disadvantage to doing it this way is you can't choose which companies you want to price. So if you prefer to pick specific providers to compare prices, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in New York. View list of New York insurance companies.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you're using exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for each price quote. If you compare different values for each quote it will be next to impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Utica. Slightly different limits can result in a big premium difference. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing a large number of companies will increase your chances of finding better pricing.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

It's important that you understand the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes some of the items used by your company to calculate your rates.

Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? - The majority of insurance companies give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to 10 percent or more. Even with this discount, you may still want to shop around to verify if the discount is saving money. Consumers may find better rates by splitting coverages up.
Rates may be lower depending on your job - Occupations like real estate brokers, social workers and dentists have the highest average rates attributed to high stress and lengthy work days. Other occupations like farmers, historians and the unemployed get better rates.
Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs - Insurance companies in New York generally give cheaper rates to drivers who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Theft deterrents lower rates - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder auto theft.
High crash test scores lower rates - Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. Safer cars protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Do you have enough liability coverage? - The liability section of your policy will protect you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It provides you with a defense in court starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Do you need the policy add-ons? - There are a lot of extra bells and whistles you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and additional equipment coverage are some examples. These coverages may sound good at first, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Performance influences rates - The make and model of the vehicle you drive makes a substantial difference in determining your rates. Economy passenger cars receive the most favorable rates, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically before you will receive the discount.

Multi-policy Discount - When you have multiple policies with one company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
Claim Free - Claim-free drivers pay less compared to frequent claim filers.
Drivers Ed for Students - Require your teen driver to take driver's ed class in high school.
Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
Defensive Driving Course - Completing a course in driver safety could save 5% or more depending on where you live.

Keep in mind that some credits don't apply to the entire cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

For a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Utica, click here.

More information can be read on the website for the New York Department of Financial Services through this link. New York consumers can read consumer alerts, read industry bulletins, download brochures, and view a list of available companies.

Shop smart and save

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, an accident victim reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that they should have had better coverage. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Affordable auto insurance is possible online as well as from independent agents in Utica, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies don't offer online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.