Lower Online Wood Ridge Auto Insurance Prices With These Tricks

Shopping online for Wood Ridge auto insurance can be complicated if you have never used online rate quotes. But don't be discouraged because it's actually quite easy.

It's important to compare prices periodically since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal two years ago you can probably find a better price now. So just forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the proper way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

  • Do men or women drive better? - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Men and women cause accidents at about the same rate, but the males have costlier accidents. They also receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI. Young males are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
  • A clean driving record saves money - Just one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Careful drivers get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
  • Rural vs Urban Areas - Living in a small town can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
  • Where do you drive? - Driving more miles each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based on their usage. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance companies don't always list all their discounts very clearly, so here is a list some of the best known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

  • Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims for a certain period of time.
  • Good Student - This discount can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
  • Life Insurance - Some companies give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
  • No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.

It's important to note that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you're out of luck.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in New Jersey, click here to view.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. They all seem to make an identical promise that you can save after switching to their company. How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay higher rates and ends up with business not being written. The ads say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can state the savings. Because of the profiling, you should compare as many rates as you can. It's not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Should I buy only the required New Jersey minimum liability coverage?
  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you're not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, complete this form.

Additional detailed information is available at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. New Jersey drivers can learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about a company, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other informative sites include this site for New Jersey auto insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Wood Ridge.

New Jersey auto insurance

Final considerations

Lower-priced auto insurance can be purchased on the web and also from your neighborhood Wood Ridge agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how you can save on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies.

When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don't buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price.