Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can drain your checking account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparison shopping is free and is an excellent way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.
Many insurers vie for your hard-earned dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurers and get the best coverage at the lowest rate
You should make it a habit to check car insurance prices periodically since rates fluctuate regularly. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price two years ago other companies may now be cheaper. Starting now, ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re going to learn the things you must know in order to find lower rates on car insurance.
If you have car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using this information. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Buffalo is not rocket science. But Wyoming drivers need to have an understanding of how big insurance companies compete online.
Get Cheaper Rates by Understanding Pricing
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that help determine car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.
- Equipment add-ons that lower car insurance rates – Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.
- Rate your vehicle for proper use – The more you drive in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. Most companies price each vehicle’s coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your car insurance policy shows the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
- Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are a ton of additional coverages that can waste your money on your car insurance policy. Things like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships are some examples. These coverages may sound good at first, but if you don’t need them remove them from your policy.
- Where you live – Choosing to live in a small town can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Drivers who live in large cities regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident.
- Are you male or female? – Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn’t mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women are in accidents in similar numbers, but the men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also statistically have more aggressive citations such as reckless driving.
- How credit affects car insurance rates – Having a bad credit rating is a huge factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower credit ratings. So if your credit rating can use some improvement, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your rating.
- One company can mean more discounts – Many insurance companies will give a discount to policyholders who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it’s in your best interest to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still find better rates by buying car insurance from a different company.
- Bad driving skills means higher rates – Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Drivers who don’t get tickets have lower premiums than bad drivers. Just one speeding ticket can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who get serious violations like DUI or reckless driving may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
Comprehensive Car Insurance Comparison in Buffalo
Most major insurance companies provide coverage prices online. Getting online rates is pretty easy as you just enter the amount of coverage you want into a form. Upon sending the form, their system automatically retrieves reports for credit and driving violations and returns a price quote determined by many factors. Being able to quote online streamlines rate comparisons, but the work required to visit multiple sites and type in the same information is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it is imperative to do this if you are searching for a lower rate.
The easy way to compare rates
The smarter way to find better car insurance pricing makes use of a single form that analyzes rates from several different companies. The form is fast, eliminates repetitive work, and makes rate comparisons a little more enjoyable. After your information is entered, it is rated with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the price quotes you receive. If you find a better price it’s easy to complete the application and buy the policy. This process just takes a couple of minutes and you will know how your current rates stack up.
To compare rates using this form now, click here to open in new window and submit the form. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you input deductibles and limits as shown on your current policy. Doing this guarantees you will be getting a rate comparison for similar insurance coverage.
Are you falling for claims of savings?
Car insurance providers like State Farm and Allstate regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all say the same thing that you’ll save big if you move your coverage to them. But how can every company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.
Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a preferred risk could be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and most likely will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Drivers who fall outside the requirements will be quoted higher premiums which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently state the savings. This emphasizes why drivers should quote coverage with many companies. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.
Save big with these discounts
Companies that sell car insurance don’t always publicize every available discount very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance.
- Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
- Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with a few car insurance companies.
- Club Memberships – Belonging to a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break when buying car insurance.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accidents.
- Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
But I don’t know anything about car insurance
When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
- Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
- Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
- Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
More tips and info about car insurance is available at the Wyoming Insurance Department website. Wyoming consumers can view agent and company licensing information, learn about specific coverages, and discover disciplinary actions.
The following information may also be useful.
Shop smart and save
Affordable car insurance is available online as well as from independent agents in Buffalo, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
When buying insurance coverage, don’t be tempted to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim they didn’t have enough coverage. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.