Tightwads Instructions on Saving on Warwick Auto Insurance

I can't think of anyone who likes paying for auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much.

Lots of contend for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates and uncover the absolute lowest rate

It's important to compare prices periodically since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best deal a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the only way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Take advantage of discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.

New Vehicle Savings - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Early Signing - Select companies give a discount for signing up before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
Drive Less and Save - Driving fewer miles can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
Sign Online - Some insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy on their website.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will cut your overall premium however.

To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Warwick, follow this link.

Warwick Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from different Warwick insurance companies. The best method to find competitive insurance rates consists of shopping online. This can be done in several different ways.

The best way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This method eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for each company. Just one form will return quotes from multiple companies.
A less efficient way to compare rate quotes is to take the time to go to each company's website to complete their respective quote request forms. For sake of this example, let's assume you want to compare , and . You would have to spend time on each company's site and enter your information, and that's why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Warwick, click here.
The least efficient method to compare rates is to waste gas driving to and from local insurance agencies. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you have a need for the trained guidance of a licensed agent. You can, however, obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent and we'll touch on that later.

Whichever way you use, be sure to compare the exact same coverages and limits on every quote you get. If each company quotes different deductibles it will be very difficult to determine which rate is truly the best in Warwick. Just a small difference in coverages may cause a big price difference. Keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes will increase your chances of finding a lower rate.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Listed below are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Mature drivers pay less - Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Teenage drivers are statistically proven to be more careless behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
Type of vehicle determines base rates - The type of car you own makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. Lower performance four cylinder passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Traffic citations inflate rates - Just one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
Choose a safe vehicle and save - Safer cars are cheaper to insure. These vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you.

How to know if you need help

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone's situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you switch to their company. How do they all say the same thing? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully make those claims.

Because of the profiling, drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Do the work, save more money

While you're price shopping online, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.

In this article, we covered many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like .

Cheap auto insurance is available on the web and also from your neighborhood Warwick agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Additional information is available on the website for the New York Department of Financial Services. Click here for link. New York drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, learn about specific coverages, file complaints about a company, and find disaster information.