Searching for low-cost Hempstead auto insurance on the web is impossible for consumers not familiar with comparison shopping online. With dozens of companies in the marketplace, how can consumers have a chance to compare them all to find the best price?
If you are insured now or need a new policy, you can use these techniques to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. This information will let you in on how to get online quotes. New York vehicle owners just need to know the proper methods to get comparison rates online.
You probably qualify for some discounts
Companies don’t list every discount very well, so we researched some of the best known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit available, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Discount for Good Grades – Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
- Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Driver’s Ed – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.
- Accident Free – Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts when compared with drivers who are more careless.
- Multi-policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
- Federal Employees – Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with certain companies.
- Own a Home – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
- Life Insurance Discount – Some companies give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.
To choose providers with discount auto insurance rates in New York, follow this link.
But I prefer to buy car insurance from an agent
Some consumers would rather sit down with an agent and that is just fine! Agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. The best thing about price shopping on the web is you can get the best rates and still have an agent to talk to.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this simple form, your information is submitted to participating agents in Hempstead who will give you bids for your coverage. You never need to visit any agencies because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. It doesn’t get any easier!
Picking a company needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
Two types of Hempstead insurance agents
If you’re trying to find an insurance agent, there are a couple of different types of agents to choose from. Agents can either be independent or captive. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s important to know how they differ because it can influence your agent selection.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company such as State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. These agents are not able to compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. Captive agents are trained well on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Some consumers prefer to buy insurance from these agents mostly because of high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.
Listed below is a list of captive insurance agencies in Hempstead that can give you comparison quotes.
- Allstate Insurance Co – 40 N Franklin St – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 292-5100
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When comparing rates, you should always get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.Most can insure with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.
Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Hempstead who can help you get comparison quotes.
- Remco Agency Inc – 14 Front St # 102 – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 488-3040
- MDR Insurance – 174 Westbury Blvd – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 485-4051
- Pena’s Agency – 21 W Columbia St # 2 – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 505-0854
- Davis Agency – 556 Peninsula Blvd – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 483-5101
- Coverage Plus Insurance Brkrg – 369 Peninsula Blvd – Hempstead, NY 11550 – (516) 292-4660
To view a complete directory of licensed insurance agents in Hempstead, please view this page.
After receiving positive feedback for all questions you ask and a low price estimate, most likely you have located an insurance agency that will provide auto insurance coverage.
Save $444 a year. For real?
Consumers in New York constantly see and hear ads for cheaper car insurance by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all have a common claim that you can save if you switch to them.
How do they all claim to save you money?
All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer could be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A propective insured who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.
Potential customers who don’t qualify for these standards will be charged higher premiums which leads to business not being written. The ads say “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. That is why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It’s not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.
Coverages available on your auto insurance policy
Understanding the coverages of a auto insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Auto insurance terms can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Medical expense coverage
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for immediate expenses for things like funeral costs, doctor visits and prosthetic devices. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.
Since many New York drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/10), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important.
Liability auto insurance
This coverage provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to people or other property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have values of 50/100/50 which means a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as repair costs for stationary objects, medical expenses, structural damage, bail bonds and funeral expenses. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. New York requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/10,000 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.
Auto collision coverage
This pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for claims like sustaining damage from a pot hole, colliding with another moving vehicle, driving through your garage door, hitting a mailbox and colliding with a tree. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Comprehensive protection
This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, hitting a bird and damage from getting keyed. The most a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Online resources for education
More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Consumers can find out industry alerts, read state legal mandates and laws, read industry bulletins, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest
When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.
We’ve covered a lot of tips how to compare auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even find the most savings is with a small local company.
Drivers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, policy cancellation, questionable increases in premium and delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason, finding a great new company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.