9 Discounts South Orange Consumers Forget when Buying Car Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me when I say you're not alone.

There are many to pick from, and even though it's nice to be able to choose, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check car insurance prices every six months since rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest rates two years ago you can probably find a better price now. Starting right now, block out anything you think you know about car insurance because we're going to show you the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

Finding the lowest cost car insurance coverage in South Orange is not that difficult. Just about every driver who is required by state law to have car insurance stands a good chance to be able to reduce their rates. But New Jersey consumers do need to know how the larger insurance companies determine prices and use this information to your advantage.

These nine discounts can lower your rates

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there are discounts available to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for prior to receiving the credit.

Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a qualifying organization could qualify you for a break on car insurance.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course in high school.
Theft Prevention Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
More Vehicles More Savings - Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
College Student - Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.
Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will bring down the cost of coverage.

To choose companies with the best car insurance discounts in New Jersey, follow this link.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive regularly use ads on television and other media. They all seem to say the same thing that you'll save big if you move to them. How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential customers who are not a match for these standards will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save money. That's the way companies can state the savings.

Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's just too difficult to predict which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more about New Jersey car insurance

Much more information about car insurance in New Jersey can be found on the website for the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance found here. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find out which companies have the most complaints, view a list of available companies, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other informative sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research South Orange insurance agents.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don't buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price.

Discount car insurance is possible both online and with local South Orange insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.