Online price comparisons for can be complicated if you’ve never received online car insurance quotes. But don’t be dismayed because we’re going to show you how.
Car insurance policy discounts
Companies offering auto insurance do not list the entire discount list very well, so here is a list a few of the more well known as well as some of the hidden credits available to you.
- Cautious Driver Discounts – Accident-free drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than less cautious drivers.
- ABS Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – By making one initial payment rather than paying in monthly installments you may reduce your total bill.
- Safety Course Discount – Taking time to complete a course teaching defensive driver skills could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
- Air Bag Discount – Factory air bags could see savings of more than 20%.
- Include Life Insurance and Save – Select insurance companies reward you with a lower car insurance rate if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
- Own a Home and Save – Just being a homeowner can save a few bucks because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though you would think all those discounts means the company will pay you, that’s just not realistic.
If you would like to view providers that offer many of these discounts in New Jersey, click here.
There are multiple methods to compare car insurance prices and some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can waste a lot of time talking about coverages with insurance companies in Northfield, or you could use the web to quickly compare rates.
All the larger companies belong to an insurance system where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and every company then returns a price quote. This saves time by eliminating quote forms to every company.
To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here (opens in new window).
The one disadvantage to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify the companies to get quotes from. So if you want to choose specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we put together a list of low cost car insurance companies in New Jersey. Click to view list.
Whichever way you choose to compare rates, do your best to enter nearly identical information for each comparison quote. If you enter different liability limits you will not be able to get a fair rate comparison in Northfield.
What is the best car insurance coverage?
When choosing proper insurance coverage, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different.
For instance, these questions might help in determining if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.
- Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
- Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
- What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
- Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- Should I buy only the required New Jersey minimum liability coverage?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.
When to get advice from a local insurance agent
Many people would prefer to have an agent’s advice and that is recommended in a lot of cases Experienced insurance agents can help you choose the best coverages and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of getting free rate quotes online is you may find the lowest rates and still have a local agent. Putting coverage with neighborhood insurance agencies is still important in Northfield.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, your insurance data is submitted to insurance agents in Northfield that give free quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to you. If you wish to compare rates from a specific insurance company, you just need to jump over to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.
Below is a list of car insurance companies in Northfield who can help you get price quotes.
- Allstate Insurance Co – 2326 New Rd, Northfield, NJ 08225 – (609) 646-9357
- Baehner & Tepedino Insurance – 2408 Cedarbridge Rd, Northfield, NJ 08225 – (609) 646-3790
- State Farm Insurance – 1334 Tilton Rd, Northfield, NJ 08225 – (609) 646-4044
- Dowey Insurance – 1423 Tilton Rd # 8, Northfield, NJ 08225 – (609) 646-2118
In order to help you find insurance agents located close to you, feel free to see this full listing of Northfield car insurance agents.
Selecting an insurer should depend on more than just a low price. These are some questions your agent should answer.
- Which insurance company do they prefer to write with?
- Is auto insurance their primary focus?
- Will they give you a referral list?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- Are aftermarket or OEM parts used to repair vehicles?
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in New Jersey?
- Can you use your own choice of collision repair facility?
Slick advertising tricks that work
New Jersey consumers can’t avoid all the ads for cheaper car insurance from companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all make the point that drivers can save some big amount just by moving your policy.
How is it plausible that every one can make the same claim?
Different companies give the cheapest rates for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, this type of insured might be over the age of 50, has few claims, and has great credit. A driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest auto insurance rates and will probably save some money.
Consumers who don’t qualify for those standards may receive a higher premium which translates to the customer buying from someone else. The wording the ads use say “drivers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” can save as much as they claim. This is how companies can make claims like that.
Because of the profiling, drivers should do a rate comparison at every renewal. Because without a comparison, you cannot know which company will have the best auto insurance rates.
Information about specific coverages
Knowing the specifics of a car insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
UM/UIM Coverage – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your vehicle.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (New Jersey limits are 15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important. Most of the time these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.
Collision coverages – Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims like backing into a parked car, driving through your garage door, colliding with another moving vehicle and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Medical costs insurance – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills like nursing services, hospital visits, surgery, pain medications and EMT expenses. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Liability – Liability insurance provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people in an accident. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $50,000. Some companies may use a combined limit which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability coverage protects against claims like funeral expenses, repair costs for stationary objects, medical services and court costs. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. New Jersey state minimum liability requirements are 15,000/30,000/5,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as damage from getting keyed, theft, hitting a bird and vandalism. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay 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.
Don’t give up on cheaper rates
Drivers change insurance companies for many reasons like denial of a claim, high rates after DUI convictions, policy non-renewal and unfair underwriting practices. Regardless of your reason, finding a new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Lower-priced car insurance can be purchased on the web in addition to many Northfield insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies do not offer rate quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell coverage through local independent agents.
More New Jersey car insurance information
Much more information about car insurance in New Jersey can be found on the through this link. New Jersey consumers can get help finding coverage, find disaster information, file complaints about a company, and read industry bulletins.
The following information may also be useful.