Proven Techniques to Save on Dover Car Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced car insurance can take a big chunk out of your savings account and force you to make sacrifices. Doing a price comparison is a great way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

Because there are so many different company options, it's difficult to locate the lowest price insurance company.

Finding affordable coverage in Dover is easy if you know what you're doing. In a nutshell, anyone who is required by state law to have car insurance will be able to reduce their rates. But New Jersey consumers do need to know the way insurance companies market insurance on the web and take advantage of how the system works.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Auto insurance companies don't always advertise every discount very well, so here is a list both the well known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.

  • Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with a few car insurance companies.
  • Life Insurance Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • Safety Course Discount - Completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
  • Anti-lock Brakes - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
  • Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Being a member of a professional or civic organization may earn a discount when shopping for car insurance.
  • Multiple Cars - Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
  • Own a Home - Simply owning a home can save you money because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
  • Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can earn big discounts when compared to drivers who are more careless.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way.

How to Lower your Car Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.

  • An active claims history can cost you - If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Companies in New Jersey generally give discounts to people who do not file claims often. Auto insurance is intended for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
  • More miles equals more premium - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the higher your rate. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your car insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
  • Add-on coverages can add up - There are quite a few add-on coverages that can waste your money when buying car insurance. Things like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage are some examples. They may seem like a good idea at first, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • Multiple policies with one company can save - Some insurance companies provide better rates to insureds who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Older drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in New Jersey have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when driving so car insurance rates are higher. Having to add a young driver onto a policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions can help discover whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.

  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
  • Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in New Jersey?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?

If you can't answer these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Save $429 a year? Really?

Car insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO consistently run television and radio advertisements. They all have a common claim that you'll save big if you change your coverage to them. But how can every company claim to save you money?

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer might be a mature driver, has no prior claims, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will be quoted higher prices and this can result in the customer not buying. The ad wording is "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can claim big savings. This emphasizes why drivers should quote coverage with many companies. You cannot predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

More detailed New Jersey car insurance information is available at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. Visitors are able to download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, discover disciplinary actions, and read consumer alerts.

Also read more on this online resource for car insurance quotes in New Jersey and this list of insurance agents in Dover.

New Jersey car insurance quotes

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When trying to cut insurance costs, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

Discount car insurance is attainable both online as well as from independent agents in Dover, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.