8 Tricks to Save on Car Insurance in Bristol, RI

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me, you're not the only one.

Companies like GEICO and Progressive persitently shower you with TV and radio ads and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, buy you may qualify for discounts to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for before you will receive the discount.

Payment Method - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying coverage for multiple vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
Federal Government Employee - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
Theft Prevention Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Low Mileage Discounts - Fewer annual miles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Clubs and Organizations - Belonging to a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for car insurance.
Lower Rates for Military - Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will reduce the cost of coverage.

How can State Farm, Allstate and GEICO save drivers who switch?

Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads on television and other media. They all make an identical promise that you can save after switching your coverage to them. How can each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer could be between 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who are not a match for the requirements will be quoted more money and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. That's the way insurance companies can state the savings.

This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company's rates. It's just too difficult to predict which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more about Rhode Island car insurance

More information can be found on the website for the Rhode Island Division of Insurance Regulation found here. Consumers can view a list of available companies, report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, and download brochures.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Affordable car insurance can be bought from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Bristol, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.