I can’t think of anyone who enjoys paying for car insurance, especially knowing the cost is too high.
Because you have many choices, it’s nearly impossible to locate the most affordable insurance company.
You should make it a habit to do rate comparisons once or twice a year since insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you had the lowest rates a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So forget all the misinformation about car insurance because it’s time to teach you the things you must know in order to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.
Finding affordable coverage in Trenton is quite easy. Basically, anyone who is required by state law to have car insurance will be able to reduce their rates. Nevertheless, New Jersey consumers need to have an understanding of the methods companies use to price online insurance and apply this information to your search.
Compare the Market for Car Insurance in Trenton, New Jersey
When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways of comparing price quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The easiest way by far to find the lowest rates is to get quotes online. This can be done using a couple different methods.
The easiest and least time consuming way to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This form eliminates the need for separate forms for each company you want a rate for. A single form compares rates from many national carriers.
A less efficient way to shop for car insurance online requires a trip to the website for every company you want to comare to request a price quote. For examples sake, we’ll pretend you want rates from Auto-Owners, Progressive and GMAC. To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, which is why most consumers use the first method. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Trenton, click here.
The hardest method to compare rates is to spend your day driving to different agent offices. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you require the trained guidance only provided by licensed agents. You can, however, find lower rates online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll touch on that later.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but make darn sure you compare identical quote information for each price quote. If the quotes have unequal deductibles or liability limits it’s impossible to determine the best price in Trenton. Slightly different coverage limits can result in a big premium difference. It’s important to know that comparing a large number of companies gives you a better chance of getting a lower rate.
Companies offer discounts so take them!
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not know about. Some discounts apply automatically at quote time, but some must be inquired about before being credited.
- Senior Citizens – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a discount up to 10%.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- One Accident Forgiven – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a set time period.
- Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
- Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.
A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky. But any discount will cut your overall premium however.
Don’t I need to talk to an agent?
Some people would prefer to sit down with an agent. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you may find lower rates but also keep your business local. And providing support for local insurance agencies is definitely important in Trenton.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, the quote information is transmitted to participating agents in Trenton who will return price quotes for your coverage. There is no need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. You can find better rates AND a local agent.
Captive agents vs. Independent agents
When researching an insurance agent, there are a couple of different agency structures from which to choose. Trenton agents are classified as either captive or independent.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part.
When searching for an agent, you should always get quotes from several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.
Below is a short list of independent agents in Trenton that can give you price quotes.
Richard E Maziarz Agency – – Trenton, NJ 8628 – (609) 771-9533
Goodwin Agency – – Trenton, NJ 8619 – (609) 587-0655
Prudential Insurance Co – 1330 Parkway Ave – Trenton, NJ 08628 – (609) 771-1313
Grogh Insurance – 2426 Nottingham Way – Trenton, NJ 08619 – (609) 587-0029
Gandelman Agency – 684 Whitehead Rd – Trenton, NJ 08648 – (609) 695-1496
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents can only place business with one company and some examples include Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agents receive extensive training on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.
Shown below are Trenton captive insurance agents who can help you get rate quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 2620 White Horse Hamilton Rd – Trenton, NJ 08690 – (609) 586-0657
Allstate Insurance – 2273 Highway 33 # 205 – Trenton, NJ 08690 – (609) 587-2196
To view a full list of Trenton captive insurance agents, please view this page.
Picking a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a low price. These questions are important to ask:
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
Once you have satisfactory answers and locked in a price quote, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy. Keep in mind once you purchase a policy you can terminate your policy at any time so never assume that you are obligated to the car insurance policy with no way to switch.
Auto insurance 101
Knowing the specifics of car insurance can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Car insurance terms can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverages found on most car insurance policies.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses such as rehabilitation expenses, pain medications, ambulance fees and EMT expenses. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers you and your occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Coverage for collisions
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims like crashing into a building, backing into a parked car, sustaining damage from a pot hole and rolling your car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive auto coverage
This coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like fire damage, rock chips in glass, a broken windshield, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and hitting a bird. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability insurance
This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property in an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see values of 25/50/25 which means a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability insurance covers things such as loss of income, structural damage and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy higher limits if possible. New Jersey requires drivers to carry at least 15,000/30,000/5,000 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
This coverage gives you protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Since many New Jersey drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (New Jersey limits are 15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Additional information is located on the website for the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance located here. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, report car insurance fraud, download brochures, and find a variety of consumer forms.
Other informative sites include this site for car insurance rates in New Jersey and this resource to find Trenton, NJ insurance agents.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
Cost effective car insurance is available from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Trenton, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.
As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice full coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.
We just covered a lot of information how to save on car insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even find the biggest savings come from the smaller companies. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates than the large multi-state companies such as Geico and State Farm.