Tired of not being able to afford to insure your vehicles every month? You are no different than most other car owners in Vermont.
You have so many insurers to pick from, and even though it’s nice to have a selection, having more car insurance companies makes it harder to locate the cheapest rates.
It’s smart to check auto insurance prices periodically because prices tend to go up over time. Even if you think you had the lowest price six months ago other companies may now be cheaper. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re about to find out one of the quickest ways to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.
How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in Windsor, VT
All the larger auto insurance companies quote insurance quotes directly from their websites. Obtaining pricing is fairly simple as you simply enter your personal and coverage information as detailed in the form. After you complete the form, the company’s rating system obtains information on your driving record and credit history and gives you a price quote. This makes comparing rates easy, but the work required to visit many different websites and enter the same data into a form is monotonous and tiresome. But it is imperative to compare as many rates as possible if you want to find the lowest auto insurance rates.
Compare rates the easy way
The easiest way to find lower prices is to use a quote form to obtain quotes from a lot of companies. It saves time, requires less work, and makes online quotes a lot less work. As soon as the form is sent, it is quoted with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the returned quotes. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can simply submit the application and buy the policy. The entire process can be completed in a matter of minutes and can result in significant savings.
In order to get comparison pricing now, click here and enter your vehicle and coverage information. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend that you enter the coverage information identical to your current policy. This way, you are getting rate comparison quotes for exact coverage.
Can switching companies really save?
Auto insurance providers like Allstate and Progressive consistently run ads on television and other media. They all have a common claim about savings if you change your policy. How does each company claim to save you money?
All the different companies can use profiling for the driver they prefer to insure. An example of a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and most likely will cut their rates substantially.
Potential insureds who are not a match for the requirements must pay higher premiums which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That’s why companies can truthfully advertise the savings. This illustrates why you absolutely need to get a wide range of price quotes. It’s impossible to know which company will fit your personal profile best.
You probably qualify for some discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t always publicize every discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.
- Drive Safe and Save – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accidents.
- Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.
- Student in College – Children who live away from home and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
- One Accident Forgiven – A few companies will allow you to have one accident before raising your premiums so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
- Early Signing – Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance.
- Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
- Auto/Home Discount – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save 10% to 20% off each policy.
Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck.
But don’t I need an insurance agent?
A small number of people just want to visit with an insurance agent and that is OK! The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates and still choose a local agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, your coverage information is transmitted to agents in your area who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no need to leave your house as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy! It’s the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.
Deciding on a company shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
Insurance agent types
When researching a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two different agency structures that you can select. Agents are classified as either captive or independent.
Captive Agents
Captive agents can only place business with one company like AAA, Allstate and State Farm. They are unable to compare other company’s rates so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They are well schooled on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency.
When shopping rates, we recommend you include several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
The following is a list of independent insurance agents in Windsor willing to provide comparison quotes.
Frazer Insurance – 105 Main St # 150 – Windsor, VT 05089 – (802) 674-5506
To view a complete directory of auto insurance agents in Windsor, click here to link.
After getting good answers and a good coverage price, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that is a good match to insure your vehicles.
More detailed Vermont auto insurance information can be found at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation website. Vermont consumers can learn about specific coverages, download brochures, view a list of available companies, and report car insurance fraud.
Additional helpful sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this link which helps you find a Windsor agent.
Final considerations
Cheap auto insurance is definitely available online in addition to many Windsor insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
We just covered a lot of techniques to shop for auto insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from the least-expected company. They can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like Progressive and Geico.