Tightwads Tips for Saving on Buffalo Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me, there are many people just like you.

There are many to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check auto insurance prices at least once a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best rates a year ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance online but we're going to give you some great ways to reduce your auto insurance bill.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

How many coverages with the same company - Many auto insurance companies give discounts to people who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are a ton of extra coverages you can purchase if you aren't careful. Coverages for roadside assistance, better glass coverage and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - Driving more miles in a year the higher your rates will be. Most companies price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos left parked in the garage get more affordable rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
Adjust deductibles and save - Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims are a windshield shattered by a rock, damage caused by hail, and windstorm damage. Physical damage deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. The more expense you're willing to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs - Insurance companies in North Dakota give lower rates to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
Better credit means lower rates - Your credit history is a important factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. So if your credit is not that good, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have lower credit scores.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.

How to Compare Buffalo Auto Insurance Costs

There are several ways to compare rate quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. One of the best ways to compare insurance prices consists of shopping online. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

The fastest way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This form eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for every auto insurance company. Completing one form gets rate comparisons from multiple companies.
A harder way to compare rate quotes is spending the time to visit the website for each individual company and request a quote. For example, let's assume you want to compare rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Buffalo, click here.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just compare identical information with every price quote. If you compare higher or lower deductibles it's not possible to find the best deal in Buffalo. Having just a slight variation in coverages can make a big difference in price. Just keep in mind that quoting more helps locate the best price.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but there are discounts available to reduce the price significantly. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time you complete a quote, but some may not be applied and must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.

Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
Driver Safety - Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Homeowners Discount - Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
Federal Government Employee - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most cut individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will bring down your overall premium however.

To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts in North Dakota, click this link.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. All the ads make the same claim about savings after switching to them. How does each company say the same thing?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that makes them money. A good example of a preferred risk might be profiled as a mature driver, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will be charged a more expensive rate which leads to business not being written. The ads say "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save money. That's the way companies can truthfully make those claims.

That is why you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Additional information can be read on the website for the North Dakota Insurance Department located here. North Dakota drivers can read consumer alerts, discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and report car insurance fraud.

Affordable insurance is out there

While you're price shopping online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn't purchase enough coverage. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheap auto insurance can be purchased on the web and with local Buffalo insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some companies do not offer online price quotes and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.