Tightwads Tips for Saving on West Lebanon Auto Insurance

No one likes having to buy auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much.

You have so many to pick from, and even though it's nice to be able to choose, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to price shop coverage periodically because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest price a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. Don't believe everything you read about auto insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

Finding affordable coverage in West Lebanon is easy if you know what you're doing. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using this information. But New Hampshire drivers do need to know the methods companies use to sell online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces that factor into rates.

  • Your location affects your rates - Living in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. City drivers regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
  • Traffic violations increase rates - Just one citation may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have dangerous citations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • What are your deductibles? - Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be a windshield shattered by a rock, damage from fire, or theft. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.
  • Pleasure use saves money - The higher the mileage driven each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.

New Hampshire auto insurance quotes

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

  • Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
  • Good Student - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
  • Multiple Cars - Buying insurance for all your vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance.
  • Drive Less and Save - Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with 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 could save 5% or more.
  • Sign Online - A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a house in West Lebanon may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
  • Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive a discount up to 10%.
  • Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in New Hampshire, follow this link.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. They all seem to say the same thing that you'll save big if you change your policy. How does each company make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't meet these standards will have to pay more money which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That is how companies can make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, you should get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

How much car insurance do I need?

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. For example, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs could use an agent's help.

  • What are the best liability limits?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Additional New Hampshire consumer information

More detailed New Hampshire auto insurance information is located at the New Hampshire Insurance Department website. New Hampshire consumers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other informative sites include Wikipedia and this West Lebanon agent directory.

New Hampshire auto insurance

Final considerations

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, someone dropped collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford.

In this article, we presented a lot of information how to save on auto insurance. It's most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a small local company. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like .

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced online in addition to many West Lebanon insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.