Port Murray Car Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Are you intimidated by the wide range of car insurance companies in Port Murray? Lot's of other consumers are too. There are so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a lot of work to find the best price.

It's important to price shop coverage every six months because rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best rates a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. Don't believe everything you read about car insurance on the web, but we're going to give you some great ways to quit paying high car insurance rates.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Port Murray is easy if you know what you're doing. If you have car insurance now, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. But New Jersey car owners do need to know how companies sell insurance online.

Learn How to Buy Car Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

Listed below are some of the items that factor into your rates.

How's your driving record? - Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than bad drivers. Only having one ticket may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers who get serious violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
Do you know your deductibles? - Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered are colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and burglary. Physical damage deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the less your car insurance will be.
Your location is important - Choosing to live in a rural area has it's advantages when it comes to car insurance. Drivers in populated areas regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate.
Theft deterrents lower rates - Choosing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
Discounts for married couples - Getting married can actually save you money on your car insurance policy. Marriage usually means you are more mature than a single person and it's statistically proven that being married results in fewer claims.
More miles equals more premium - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Autos left parked in the garage get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your car insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't list every available discount very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the more common and the more hidden ways to save on car insurance.

Discount for Good Grades - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
Homeowners Discount - Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you may save up to 20% off your total premium.
Payment Discounts - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
No Charge for an Accident - Certain companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free prior to the accident.
Auto/Life Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Low Mileage - Driving fewer miles could qualify for better rates on cars that stay parked.
Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver's ed class in school.
New Car Discount - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way.

To choose providers offering car insurance discounts in New Jersey, click this link.

The car insurance bait and switch

Companies like State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. All the ads make the same claim that you'll save big if you switch your policy. How does each company make the same claim?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that makes them money. A good example of a preferred risk could be between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. A customer who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when switching.

Drivers who don't measure up to these standards will be charged higher premiums which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads state "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can make the claims of big savings. That is why you should get quotes from several different companies. Because you never know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

More detailed New Jersey car insurance information can be read at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. Consumers can file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other informative sites include NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of insurance agents in Port Murray New Jersey.

Final considerations

We just showed you some good ideas how to save on car insurance. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising.

Discount car insurance is available from both online companies in addition to many Port Murray insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not provide online price quotes and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.