Little Known Methods to Saving Money on Hempstead Car Insurance

If you’ve never shopped for car insurance online, you may be confused by the vast number of online car insurance companies and websites selling insurance in Hempstead.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Hempstead

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the price you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get big savings.

• High numbers of claims are not good – Auto insurance companies in New York give cheaper rates to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for the large, substantial claims.
• What type of vehicle do you drive? – The performance level of the vehicle you drive makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. Low performance passenger models generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
• Older drivers save more – Young drivers in New York are known to be more careless in a vehicle so they pay higher car insurance rates. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
• Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – The liability section of your policy is the protection when you are found liable for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.

Cheap Hempstead Car Insurance Comparisons

Most major insurance companies provide prices for coverage online. Getting online quotes is fairly simple as you simply enter the amount of coverage you want into the quote form. Once you submit the form, their system will order reports for credit and driving violations and gives you a price quote.

This simplifies rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit many different websites and enter the same data into a form can be a bit tiresome and repetitive. Unfortunately, it is important to compare as many rates as possible in order to get the lowest possible prices on car insurance.

There is a better way to compare rates

A quicker way to lower your rates makes use of a single form that gets price quotes from a bunch of companies at once. This type of form saves time, eliminates form submissions, and makes online shopping much easier. As soon as the form is sent, it is rated and you can select any one of the quote results. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase coverage. The entire process just takes a couple of minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

To use this form to compare rates, simply click here to open in new window and fill out the form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you duplicate the coverage information exactly as they are listed on your policy. Doing this assures you will be getting rate quotes based on the exact same insurance coverage.

How can 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm save drivers who switch?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the companies have a common claim of big savings if you change your policy. But how can every company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a preferred risk could be over the age of 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and most likely will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Consumers who are not a match for this ideal profile will be charged a higher premium and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That is how insurance companies can state the savings. That is why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which car insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Cut your premium with discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
• Discount for Swiching Early – Some companies give discounts for switching to them before your current expiration date. The savings is around 10%.
• Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
• E-sign – A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up online.
• Defensive Driving Course – Taking a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
• 55 and Retired – If you’re over the age of 55, you may receive reduced rates.

It’s important to note that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.

To see a list of insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Hempstead, click this link.

Car Insurance through a local agent

Some consumers prefer to buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the best rates and still choose a local agent.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), the quote information is emailed to participating agents in Hempstead who will battle for your coverage. You don’t have to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier! You’ll get the best rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Choosing an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just the bottom line cost. Agents should be asked these questions:

• Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
• Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
• Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
• Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?

What type of Hempstead auto insurance agent is right for you?

When searching for a good insurance agency, you must know there are a couple different agency structures from which to choose. Hempstead agents are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents are contracted to one company and some examples include Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. These agents are not able to provide prices from multiple companies so keep that in mind. Captive agents receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage. Consumers sometimes purchase coverage from captives mainly due to high brand loyalty and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Below is a list of captive insurance agencies in Hempstead who can help you get comparison quotes.

• Allstate Insurance Co – 40 N Franklin St – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 292-5100

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, we recommend you contact at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection.Most can insure with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

The following are Hempstead independent agents who can help you get rate quotes.

• Coverage Plus Insurance Brkrg – 369 Peninsula Blvd – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 292-4660
• Rodriguez Agency and Brokerage – 119 Jackson St – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 486-2788
• MDR Insurance – 174 Westbury Blvd – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 485-4051
• New Age Underwriters Agency – 14 Front St – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 538-0208
• Priority Agency Inc – 135 Jackson St – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 564-6834

To view a complete directory of insurance agents in Hempstead, please view this page.

Once you have positive responses to all your questions and a low price estimate, you may have just found an insurance agency that meets your needs to adequately provide car insurance.

More tips and info about car insurance is available at the New York Department of Financial Services website. New York consumers can learn about specific coverages, learn about insurance regulations, read consumer alerts, and file complaints about a company.

In conclusion

The cheapest car insurance is possible from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Hempstead, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some car insurance companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

We just showed you many tips how you can shop for car insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from an unexpected company.