How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Car Insurance in Camden

I can't think of a single person who looks forward to paying for car insurance, especially when their premiums are through the roof.

Big companies like GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ad campaigns and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Buying car insurance in Camden is not that difficult. Although Maine car owners do need to know how insurance companies determine prices and use this information to your advantage.

Save big with these discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, buy you may qualify for discounts to help offset the cost. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested prior to receiving the credit.

Military Discounts - Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Drivers Ed for Students - Have your child successfully complete driver's ed class in high school.
Federal Employees - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with a few car insurance companies.
Air Bag Discount - Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
Low Mileage Discounts - Keeping the miles down can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Paperwork-free - Certain companies will give a small break for buying your policy digitally online.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce your overall premium however.

To see a list of insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts in Camden, click here to view.

Finding Car Insurance in Camden, ME

There are several ways to compare quotes from different Camden insurance companies. The best method to find the cheapest insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be done using a couple different methods.

The best way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This easy form eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for every car insurance company. A single form will return price quotes from multiple companies.
Another way to get quotes online consists of visiting the website of each company and fill out their own quote form. For instance, let's assume you want to compare , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method. To view a list of companies in Camden, click here.
The least recommended method of comparing rate quotes is to drive around to different Camden agent offices. The ability to buy insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the trained guidance of a local Camden agent. However, consumers can obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent and we'll talk about that later.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but make absolute certain that you use exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you use different values for each quote it will be next to impossible to determine the best price in Camden. Quoting even small variations in coverages may result in large price differences. And when quoting car insurance, remember that comparing more company's prices will improve the odds of getting better pricing.

Learn How to Buy Car Insurance Cheaper

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.

Your car's features help determine rates - Owning a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent car theft.
How many coverages with the same company - The majority of insurers provide better rates to policyholders who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to compare rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Frequent car insurance claims increase rates - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Companies in Maine award cheaper rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
Better credit scores mean better rates - Having a bad credit rating is a large factor in determining your rates. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have lower credit scores. So if your credit rating can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions might point out if your situation may require specific advice.

Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you're not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all make an identical promise about savings if you move your policy. How can each company make the same claim?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer could be over the age of 50, owns a home, and has excellent credit. A customer who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who fall outside the requirements will be quoted higher prices and ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That is how companies can truthfully make those claims.

This emphasizes why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. Because you never know which company will have the lowest rates.

Do the work, save more money

While you're price shopping online, it's a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

We just showed you many tips how you can compare car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the higher the chance of saving money. You may be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like .

For more Maine car insurance information

Additional information can be found on the website for the Maine Bureau of Insurance through this link. Consumers can view a list of available companies, read consumer alerts, download brochures, and find out industry alerts.