Overwhelmed by the wide range of auto insurance company choices in Portsmouth? You have a lot of company. There are so many options available that it can quickly become a challenge to find the best price.
You should make it a habit to compare prices quite often because insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. Even if you got the best rates last year you may be paying too much now. Don’t believe everything you read about auto insurance on the internet, so by reading this article, you’re going to learn a lot of great tips on how to put money back in your pocket.
Save money by taking advantage of these seven discounts
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there could be available discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you complete an application, but a few need to be asked for before being credited.
- Pay Upfront and Save – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
- New Car Discount – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
- Employee of Federal Government – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
- Bundle and Save – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
- Safety Course Discount – Successfully completing a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
- Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
- E-sign – A handful of insurance companies will give a small break simply for signing digitally online.
Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you won’t be that lucky. But all discounts will bring down your premiums.
To choose insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in New Hampshire, follow this link.
Neighborhood insurance agents
Some consumers would rather visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. The best thing about comparing rates online is that you can obtain lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local businesses is important especially in Portsmouth.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, the coverage information is transmitted to insurance agents in Portsmouth who will compete for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to leave your house as quotes are delivered to your email. How’s that for easy! Get lower rates and an insurance agent to talk to.
What type of Portsmouth insurance agency is right for you?
When looking for local Portsmouth agents, there are a couple of types of insurance agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Portsmouth are either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Agents
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When shopping rates, you should always include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.Most can insure with smaller regional carriers which may provide better rates.
Shown below is a list of independent agencies in Portsmouth who can help you get price quote information.
- Chubb Group Of Insurance Co – 1 NH Ave # 125 – Portsmouth, NH 03801 – (603) 430-0063
- Santo Insurance and Financial – 1 New Hampshire Ave # 305 – Portsmouth, NH 03801 – (603) 430-6066
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents can only place business with one company like State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. They usually cannot give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which can be an advantage. Consumers frequently buy insurance from these agents partially due to the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.
Listed below is a list of captive agents in Portsmouth willing to provide price quotes.
- Liberty Mutual Insurance – 225 Borthwick Ave – Portsmouth, NH 03801 – (603) 431-8400
To view a complete directory of auto insurance agents in Portsmouth, visit this link.
Choosing an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a low price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in New Hampshire?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
Upon getting reasonable responses for all questions you ask and an acceptable price quote, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that is a good match to properly service your auto insurance policy.
Save $461 a year? Really?
Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate and Geico regularly use ads in print and on television. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you move your policy. How can each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.
Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer they prefer to insure. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and chooses high deductibles. A customer who fits that profile receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.
Consumers who are not a match for the “perfect” profile will be quoted a more expensive rate and this can result in business not being written. The ads state “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That is how companies can advertise the savings.
This emphasizes why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Auto insurance specifics
Knowing the specifics of auto insurance can be of help when determining the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as hail damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane and falling objects. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Coverage for collisions
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims like sustaining damage from a pot hole, hitting a parking meter and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
UM/UIM Coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.
Coverage for liability
Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is a combined limit that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage pays for claims like pain and suffering, repair costs for stationary objects, attorney fees, bail bonds and medical services. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. New Hampshire requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
Medical costs insurance
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for expenses for things like ambulance fees, nursing services, doctor visits and hospital visits. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Additional auto insurance information is available on the New Hampshire Insurance Department website through this link. New Hampshire drivers can read consumer alerts, get help finding coverage, and file complaints about a company.
The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Portsmouth
- Secret Strategies for Buying Portsmouth Virginia Auto Insurance at a Discount
- Wasting Money on Car Insurance in Portsmouth, VA? Heres How to Save!
Better coverage you can count on
We covered a lot of techniques to get a better price on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest premiums are with a lesser-known regional company.
Cheaper auto insurance can be purchased from both online companies in addition to many Portsmouth insurance agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
Insureds who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, policy non-renewal, lack of trust in their agent and even high prices. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching auto insurance companies is not as hard as you think.