Tightwads Guide for Saving on Short Hills Auto Insurance

Nobody I know looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much.

Popular companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with catchy ads and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using this information. Finding affordable coverage in Short Hills is quite easy. Nevertheless, New Jersey vehicle owners do need to know the way companies compete online.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies don't always list every discount in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of some of the best known as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

  • Federal Employees - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with a few auto insurance companies.
  • Good Student - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
  • Senior Discount - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver's ed class if it's offered in school.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Larger companies have better rates if you take out life insurance.
  • Low Mileage Discounts - Fewer annual miles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Payment Method - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
  • Paperwork-free - A few companies give back up to $50 simply for signing digitally online.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in New Jersey?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Is there truth in advertising?

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all say the same thing of big savings after switching to their company. How can each company say the same thing?

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the requirements will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional New Jersey consumer information

More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. New Jersey drivers can download brochures, file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

New Jersey auto insurance

Do the work, save more money

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of tips how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from the least-expected company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates compared to the large companies like .

When shopping online for auto insurance, it's not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where someone dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.