Tightwads Tips for Saving on Henrietta Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can empty your savings account and put a big crunch on your finances. Comparing price quotes is free and is an excellent way to slash your bill and have more diposable income.

You have so many to pick from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to price shop coverage on a regular basis because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best rates a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. Don't believe everything you read about auto insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.

Finding affordable coverage in Henrietta is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using this information. Nevertheless, New York consumers do need to know the way insurance companies sell online.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Auto insurance companies don't list all their discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of both the well known and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance.

  • Sign Online - Certain companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
  • Accident Waiver - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Own a Home - Owning a house in Henrietta may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Payment Method - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Being a member of a qualifying organization could trigger savings on auto insurance.
  • Military Discounts - Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could save 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.

It's important to understand that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think it's possible to get free car insurance, it doesn't quite work that way.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The following are some of the items that factor into rates.

  • Being married can save on auto insurance - Getting married can get you a discount on your auto insurance policy. It usually means you are more mature and responsible it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Drive less and save money - Driving more miles in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos left parked in the garage get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
  • Special features that cut premiums - Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Protect yourself with liability coverage - Liability coverage is the protection if ever you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. It provides you with a defense in court starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Better crash test results mean better rates - Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.
  • Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates - Allowing your auto insurance policy to lapse will be a quick way to increase your auto insurance rates. Not only will rates go up, failure to provide proof of insurance will get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.Then you may be required to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the New York motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings after switching your policy. How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a desirable insured might be a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, drivers should quote coverage with many companies. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Visitors are able to get help finding coverage, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view a list of available companies, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Also read more on this site for New York auto insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Henrietta.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Low-cost auto insurance can be sourced both online in addition to many Henrietta insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price.