No one anticipates paying for auto insurance, especially when they know they could lower their rates if they shopped around. Big companies like State Farm and Geico persitently shower you with ad campaigns and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the corporate glitz and find the best price available.
Reduce your auto insurance rates with these six discounts
Companies do not list the entire discount list in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both the well known and also the lesser-known credits available to you.
- One Accident Forgiven – but companies like State Farm and Allstate will forgive one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a specific time period.
- Life Insurance Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a small discount if you purchase some life insurance too.
- E-sign – Some insurance companies provide a small discount simply for signing digitally online.
- Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can earn a discount up to 10% with some auto insurance companies.
- Save with a New Car – Buying a new car instead of a used car may earn a small discount due to better safety requirements for new model year vehicles.
- Full Payment Discount – By paying your entire bill at once instead of making monthly payments you may have a lower total premium amount.
Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts should definitely cut the premium cost.
A few of the larger companies and a partial list of their discounts are included below.
- Geico has savings for air bags, driver training, military active duty, defensive driver, federal employee, multi-vehicle, and seat belt use.
- Mercury Insurance may offer discounts for multi-policy, multi-car, accident-free, type of vehicle, and professional/association.
- Farmers Insurance offers discounts including multi-car, homeowner, mature driver, alternative fuel, bundle discounts, and business and professional.
- Auto-Owners Insurance includes discounts for air bags, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft, paperless, paid in full, and student away at school.
- Liberty Mutual discounts include multi-policy, multi-car, new graduate, good student, safety features, and hybrid vehicle.
- SAFECO may include discounts for safe driver, teen safety rewards, anti-theft, bundle discounts, anti-lock brakes, accident prevention training, and teen safe driver.
- Progressive may have discounts that include continuous coverage, homeowner, good student, multi-policy, and online signing.
- USAA offers discounts for annual mileage, vehicle storage, new vehicle, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and family discount.
When quoting, ask every prospective company to apply every possible discount. Some discounts listed above may not apply to policyholders in Oxford. If you would like to choose from a list of providers that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Connecticut, click this link.
Neighborhood Oxford auto insurance agents
A lot of people would prefer to have an agent’s advice and that can be a smart move A good thing about getting online price quotes is that drivers can save money and get cheap rate quotes and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local agents is definitely important in Oxford.
After completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to companies in Oxford who will give competitive quotes for your auto insurance coverage. There is no reason to contact any agents because quoted prices will be sent to your email. It’s the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping. In the event you want to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, you would need to jump over to their website and complete a quote there.
If you need to find a local agent, you need to know there are two different types of agencies that you can choose from. Agencies in Oxford are either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Auto Insurance Agents
Agents of this type do not work for one specific company so they can quote policies with an assortment of companies and get you the best rates possible. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you stay with the same agent.
When comparing auto insurance rates, you absolutely need to check rates from at a minimum one independent agency in order to compare the most rates.
The following are Oxford independent insurance agencies who may provide rate quotes.
Yazluk Insurance – 60 Oxford Rd – Oxford, CT 06478 – (203) 888-2311
Captive Auto Insurance Agents
Captive agents work for only one company and examples are State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. Captive agents cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive insurance agents are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents.
Finding a good auto insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap quote. Here are some questions you might want to ask.
- Is auto insurance their primary focus?
- Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
- How long has their agency been in business in Oxford?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
Auto insurance savings promises
Auto insurance companies such as Allstate, Geico and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. They all advertise claims about how much you will save if you move your policy. How is it possible that every company can give you a better price? It’s all in how they say it.
All companies quote their best rates for a prospective insured they prefer to insure. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be a married female, has no prior claims, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Anybody that meets those criteria will get very good Oxford premium rates and will probably save money with a new company.
Insureds who don’t measure up to these standards must pay higher premiums and this results in business not being written. If you pay close attention to the ads, they say “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. That’s why companies can lure you into getting a quote.
This illustrates why you really should compare price quotes frequently. Because without a comparison, you cannot know which company will have the best rates at this point in time.
Insurance agents can help
When it comes to choosing coverage, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions might help in determining whether or not you could use an agent’s help.
- Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
- If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
- Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
- Should I buy additional glass protection?
- Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
- What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Connecticut?
- Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
- What discounts do I qualify for?
- Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
What auto insurance coverages do you need?
Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverage types found on most auto insurance policies.
Collision insurance
This coverage pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for claims like damaging your car on a curb, hitting a mailbox, colliding with another moving vehicle and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (Connecticut limits are 20/40/10), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Usually these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Auto liability
Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 100/300/100 which means a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability insurance covers things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, medical expenses, structural damage and bail bonds. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but consider buying higher limits if possible. Connecticut state law requires minimum liability limits of 20,000/40,000/10,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.
Comprehensive protection
This covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like hitting a deer, hail damage and damage from flooding. The most a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Medical expense coverage
Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses for X-ray expenses, nursing services, ambulance fees and hospital visits. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Find out more about auto insurance
Additional information is available on the found here. Consumers can read industry bulletins, file complaints about a company, and find out industry alerts.
The following information may also be useful.
Don’t give up on affordable coverage
Throughout this article, we presented many ideas to reduce auto insurance car insurance rates online. It’s most important to understand that the more you , the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies. These companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or Geico.
When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s a bad idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to find out they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best possible price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.