Tightwads Tips for Saving on Chatham Car Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced car insurance? Trust us, there are many people just like you.

Consumers have many to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have a choice, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare rates every six months due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest price a couple years back you may be paying too much now. There is too much inaccurate information about car insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to slash your car insurance rates.

How to Compare Car Insurance in Chatham, New Jersey

There are several ways to compare car insurance prices but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with agents in Chatham, or you could save time and use online quotes to quickly compare rates.

All the larger companies belong to an insurance system that allows shoppers to send in one quote, and each company then gives them pricing determined by their information. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests for each company you want a rate for.

To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

The single downside to pricing coverage this way is you can't choose which companies to receive prices from. If you prefer to choose specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we have assembled a list of car insurance companies in New Jersey. Click to view list.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you are comparing identical quote information with every price quote. If your comparisons have mixed coverages it's not possible to find the best deal in Chatham. Quoting even small variations in limits may result in a large different in cost. Just remember that getting more free quotes helps locate the best offered rates.

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand the different types of things that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

The following are a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Older drivers save more - Youthful drivers in New Jersey are known to be more careless when behind the wheel so they pay higher car insurance rates. Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Liability insurance protects assets - Liability coverage provides coverage if ever you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not cut corners here.
Pay less after the wedding - Having a wife or husband can get you a discount on your policy. It means you're more mature and it's proven that being married results in fewer claims.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - Driving more miles in a year the more you will pay for car insurance. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your car insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Little extras can really add up - There are a ton of extra coverages that you can buy when buying car insurance. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and term life insurance may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
Bad driving skills means higher rates - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Careful drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Even one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Drivers who have flagrant citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies don't list all their discounts very clearly, so we researched both the well known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

Senior Citizens - Older drivers may be able to get better car insurance rates.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.
College Student - Kids in college who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
Life Insurance - Some companies give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.

It's important to note that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you're out of luck.

For a list of companies who offer car insurance discounts in New Jersey, click here to view.

Additional detailed information is located at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, get help finding coverage, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Do the work, save more money

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed collision coverage and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.

Lower-priced car insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Chatham agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some car insurance companies may not provide online quoting and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

We just presented many tips how you can lower your car insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from the least-expected company. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like .