How to Find Low-Cost Guilford Car Insurance

Are you intimidated by the wide range of car insurance company choices in Guilford? Many other consumers are too. Drivers have so many options available that it can turn into a big hassle to find better rates.

It's important to get comparison quotes every six months since rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best rates a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. There is a lot of wrong information about car insurance on the internet, so we're going to give you some great ways to find cheap car insurance.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Car insurance can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that you may not even be aware of. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied prior to getting the savings.

  • Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
  • Homeowners Discount - Being a homeowner can save you money because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Early Signing - A few companies offer discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
  • Multi-policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you may save 10% to 20% off each policy.
  • Federal Government Employee - Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with certain companies.
  • No Claims - Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less compared to drivers who are more careless.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don't apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce the cost of coverage.

Maine car insurance

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that can help you get better car insurance rates.

  • Tickets mean higher rates - Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than bad drivers. Even a single moving violation may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers who get serious violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
  • Do you know your deductibles? - Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered are colliding with a building, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the less your car insurance will be.
  • What type of vehicle do you drive? - The performance level of the car you drive makes a big difference in how high your rates are. The most favorable rates are generally reserved for low performance passenger cars, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
  • Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Most insurance companies give discounts to policyholders who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
  • You might want pay the small claims yourself - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance companies in Maine generally give discounts to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.
  • Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations like real estate brokers, social workers and stock brokers are shown to have the highest rates attributed to high stress levels and long work hours. On the other hand, occupations such as actors, students and homemakers pay the least.

How can State Farm and Allstate save drivers who switch?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. All the ads have a common claim about savings if you switch your policy. But how can every company make the same claim?

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a preferred risk could be a mature driver, has no driving citations, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who are not a match for this ideal profile will be charged a higher premium and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

That is why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's just too difficult to predict which car insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional information can be read on the Maine Bureau of Insurance website through this link. Consumers can file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, and learn about specific coverages.

Also read more on NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of insurance agents in Guilford Maine.

Shop smart and save

You just learned a lot of ways to reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the best price on car insurance is with an unexpected company.

Cheaper car insurance is available from both online companies in addition to many Guilford insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some car insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

When shopping online for car insurance, don't be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed full coverage and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.