Tightwads Guide for Saving on Margate City Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your savings account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparison shopping is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to slash your bill and have more diposable income. Big companies like GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with advertising and it is difficult to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to check auto insurance prices quite often because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best deal a few years ago you may be paying too much now. So ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to learn the only way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you can use these techniques to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding affordable coverage in Margate City is not that difficult. New Jersey consumers only need to know the most efficient way to compare rates on the web.

Low Cost Margate City Auto Insurance

Getting better auto insurance pricing is actually quite simple. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rates from different insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in several different ways.

The first (and easiest) way to get quotes is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This easy form keeps you from doing repetitive form entry for each company. One form will get you price quotes direct from many companies.

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online requires a visit to each company website and fill out their own quote form. For example, let's assume you want comparison quotes from , and . You would have to visit each site to input your insurance information, and that's why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Margate City, click here.

The least recommended way of getting rate comparisons is to waste gas driving to local Margate City insurance agencies. The internet makes this process obsolete unless you have a need for the trained guidance of a licensed agent. However, consumers can compare the best prices online but buy from a local insurance agent.

It's up to you which method you use, but make darn sure you compare exactly the same coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you compare differing limits you will not be able to determine the lowest rate in Margate City.

What determines how much you pay?

It's important that you understand the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are some of the factors companies use to determine your rates.

Traffic violations increase rates - Even a single speeding ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who get dangerous violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
Men are more aggressive - Statistics have proven women are more cautious behind the wheel. Now that doesn't mean women are better drivers. Men and women have accidents at about the same rate, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
High crash test scores lower rates - Safer cars can get you lower premiums. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Your stress level may be raising your rates - Occupations like doctors, business owners and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates in part from high stress levels and long work hours. Other occupations like pilots, historians and retirees have the lowest average rates.
Little extras can really add up - There are quite a few add-on coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if you don't need them eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies that sell car insurance do not list every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both well-publicized and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you're just leaving money on the table.

Good Student Discount - Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
Save over 55 - Older drivers may receive reduced rates.
Military Rewards - Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Accident Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can earn big discounts compared to frequent claim filers.
Safety Course Discount - Taking a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
Discount for Swiching Early - Select companies give a discount for switching policies before your current policy expires. The savings is around 10%.
Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky.

For a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates in Margate City, click here to view.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every insured's situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in New Jersey?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?

If you're not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It's fast, free and may give you better protection.

Even more information is available at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. New Jersey consumers can file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, find disaster information, and read industry bulletins.

Best coverage at the best price

In this article, we presented some good ideas how you can lower your auto insurance rates. It's most important to understand that the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a lesser-known regional company. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like .

As you shop your coverage around, it's a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

The cheapest auto insurance is attainable online and with local Margate City insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.