How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in New Haven

Are you sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as the majority of other car owners in Indiana.

Because you have many choices, it's difficult to find the right insurance company.

It's important to get comparison quotes once or twice a year because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest rates last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to save on auto insurance.

Finding affordable coverage in New Haven is not that difficult. Basically, every vehicle owner who has to buy auto insurance will be able to cut their insurance bill. Nevertheless, Indiana drivers do need to know how insurance companies sell insurance online and use this information to your advantage.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Bundling policies can get discounts - Most companies give discounts to customers who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it's still a good idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find better rates by buying auto insurance from a different company.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.
What type of vehicle do you drive? - The make and model of the car you drive makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates are for small economy passenger vehicles, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Even a single moving violation may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with clean records get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Protect yourself with liability coverage - Liability insurance will protect you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations like lawyers, architects and stock brokers are shown to have the highest rates due to job stress and long work days. On the other hand, professions such as farmers, students and homemakers pay the least.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder your car from being stolen.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in New Haven

There are several ways of comparing price quotes and find the best price. One of the best ways to compare insurance prices consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.

The fastest way consumers can analyze rates is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This method keeps you from doing separate forms for each company you want a rate for. Taking the time to complete one form will return quotes from several companies.
A more difficult way to get quotes online is to take the time to go to the website for each individual company and fill out their own quote form. For examples sake, we'll pretend you want rates from , and . To get each rate you have to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker. To view a list of companies in New Haven, click here.
The least efficient way to compare rates is to drive around to local insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the professional guidance that only a license agent can provide. You can, however, find lower rates online and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using apples-to-apples coverages and limits for each comparison quote. If you use different deductibles you can't possibly determine the lowest rate in New Haven. Just a small difference in coverage limits could mean much higher rates. It's important to know that having more price comparisons gives you a better chance of getting a lower rate.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but companies offer discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some discounts apply automatically when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for before being credited.

Theft Prevention Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
Military Discounts - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
Early Signing - Some companies give discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Good Students Pay Less - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply until age 25.
Organization Discounts - Participating in a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break on your policy.
No Claims - Claim-free drivers can save substantially compared to accident-prone drivers.
Low Mileage - Driving fewer miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.

It's important to understand that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce your overall premium however.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Indiana, follow this link.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Companies like Allstate and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. All the ads say the same thing of big savings if you switch your policy. But how can every company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will save a lot of money.

Consumers who fall outside this ideal profile will be charged higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That's why insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.

That is why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Indiana Department of Insurance found here. Indiana consumers can read consumer alerts, find disaster information, learn about specific coverages, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this New Haven agent directory.

Do the work, save more money

As you prepare to switch companies, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

You just read a lot of tips how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the biggest savings come from a small mutual company. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like .