Easy Methods to Save Money on Northeast Harbor Auto Insurance

Shopping for the cheapest Northeast Harbor auto insurance on the web is intimidating for beginners to comparison shopping online. Since there are so many companies in the marketplace, how can consumers effectively compare every one to find the best available rates?

If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. The purpose of this article is to teach you how to get online quotes. Although Maine drivers do need to know the methods companies use to market insurance on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about prior to receiving the credit.

Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with a few auto insurance companies.
Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Safety Course Discount - Taking a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
Accident Waiver - A few companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a certain period of time.
Passive Restraint Discount - Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
Distant Student - Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don't have a car may be able to be covered for less.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will cut your premiums.

Northeast Harbor Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Small claims can cost you - Companies in Maine give better rates to insureds who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Car insurance is designed for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the higher your rate. Most insurance companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos that are left in the garage qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your auto insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle.
Safer cars are cheaper to insure - Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
Extra add-on coverages are wasting money - There are quite a few add-on coverages that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Coverages like personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and term life insurance may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money get rid of them and save.
Men are more aggressive - Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. Now that doesn't mean men are worse drivers. Men and women cause accidents in similar percentages, but the men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also statistically have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you could use an agent's help.

Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads in print and on television. They all make the same claim about savings if you change to their company. How do they all make almost identical claims?

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver who matches those parameters will get very good rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will be quoted higher prices which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional information can be found on the Maine Bureau of Insurance website located here. Maine consumers can download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find disaster information.

Final considerations

Insureds leave their current company for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, delays in paying claims, delays in responding to claim requests and even not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

The cheapest auto insurance is attainable online and also from your neighborhood Northeast Harbor agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.