Finding Low-Cost Matawan Auto Insurance

Nobody enjoys paying for auto insurance, especially knowing the cost is way too high. Because you have many online and local companies to choose from, it can be hard to find the cheapest insurance company.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

Do you need those extra coverages? - There are a ton of additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren't careful. Things like personal injury protection, accidental death and term life insurance are some examples. These may sound like a good investment initially, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
A clean driving record saves money - Only having one moving violation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers with flagrant tickets like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
Women pay lower rates - Statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Women and men cause accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species have costlier accidents. Men also tend to get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI. Youthful male drivers are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
How credit affects auto insurance rates - A driver's credit history is a big factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit is not that good, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit scores.

Vehicle Insurance Comparison

There are multiple methods to shop for auto insurance, but one way is more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon talking to insurance companies in Matawan, or you could use the web for quick rates.

Most of the larger companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to submit their information once, and at least one company provides a quote determined by their information. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to using this type of system is you cannot specify which providers to get pricing from. So if you prefer to choose specific providers to compare rates, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in New Jersey. Click to view list.

Whichever method you choose, be sure to compare apples-to-apples quote information on every quote. If your comparisons have mixed coverages then you won't be able to make a fair comparison in Matawan.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise all available discounts very well, so we took the time to find some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If you don't get every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Driver Safety - Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Good Student - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Accident Forgiveness - Some insurance companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven't had any claims prior to the accident.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.
Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

To choose insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in New Jersey, click here.

The auto insurance bait and switch

New Jersey drivers can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance by 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies have a common claim about savings after switching to their company.

But how can every company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as between 25 and 40, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't measure up to this ideal profile must pay higher rates and this can result in business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. This illustrates why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from an agent's advice.

Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in New Jersey?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?

If you can't answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Even more information can be found at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. New Jersey drivers can discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, and find out industry alerts.

Other informative sites include this resource for New Jersey auto insurance prices and this link which helps you find a Matawan agent.

A tidy conclusion

Cheaper auto insurance can be sourced on the web and also from your neighborhood Matawan agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as .