Compare Union Auto Insurance Prices With These Methods

Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of auto insurance company choices in Union? Many other consumers are too. Drivers have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a real hassle to find the best price.

Finding the lowest cost coverage in Union is not that difficult. If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can learn to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. Maine vehicle owners just need to know the best way to shop for auto insurance online.

These discounts can lower your rates

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but there are discounts available that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied prior to getting the savings. If you're not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

Accident Free - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially when compared to drivers who are more careless.
Defensive Driver - Completing a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for reduced rates.
Distant Student - Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
Federal Government Employee - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Paperwork-free - Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will bring down the cost of coverage.

What determines how much you pay?

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like lawyers, business owners and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates because of stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations such as actors, engineers and homemakers have the lowest average rates.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are many extra coverages that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
Traffic violations increase rates - A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even one moving violation can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. If you have serious violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Are you male or female? - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Women and men are in accidents in similar percentages, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
Older drivers pay less - Teen drivers in Maine are statistically proven to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
Special features that cut premiums - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart car theft.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the higher your rate. Most companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Maine consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings by companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all make an identical promise that you'll save big if you switch to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and has a short commute. A driver who meets those qualifications 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 be quoted a higher premium and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save money. That's the way companies can make the claims of big savings.

This emphasizes why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Much more information about auto insurance in Maine can be found on the Maine Bureau of Insurance website located here. Maine consumers can read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about a company.

A tidy conclusion

People switch companies for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, questionable increases in premium, poor customer service and even denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.

Budget-conscious auto insurance is available online and with local Union insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

In this article, we presented some good ideas how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the least-expected company.