Buying the cheapest Hampstead car insurance on the internet can be intimidating for beginners to comparing rates online. With dozens of companies competing online, how can consumers possibly compare them all to find the lowest price?
It’s a great practice to price shop coverage every six months because insurance rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Even if you think you had the best deal a few years ago other companies may now be cheaper. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you’re about to find out one of the best ways to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.
How to Compare Car Insurance Quotes in Hampstead, Maryland
All major car insurance companies allow you to get price estimates on the web. Getting online rates doesn’t take much effort as you just enter your required coverages into a form. Upon sending the form, the company’s rating system pulls information on your driving record and credit history and returns pricing information.
Being able to quote online makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the time it takes to visit a lot of sites and complete many quote forms is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it is imperative to perform this step if you want to find the lowest car insurance rates.
The easiest way to get multiple rate quotes requires only one form that analyzes rates from several companies at one time. It’s a real time-saver, eliminates form submissions, and makes price shopping online much more enjoyable and efficient. After your information is entered, your coverage is rated and you can choose any of the returned quotes. If the quotes result in lower rates, you can click and sign and buy the new coverage. The entire process takes 15 minutes at the most and you’ll know if lower rates are available.
To save time and find out if lower rates are available, click here and complete the simple form. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended that you enter deductibles and limits exactly as shown on your declarations page. Using the same limits helps guarantee you will be getting a price comparison for similar insurance coverage.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Companies offering auto insurance don’t list every discount very well, so we break down some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If you don’t get every credit available, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
- E-sign – Some insurance companies give back up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
- Save over 55 – Older drivers can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
- Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates you could get a free car insurance policy, you’re out of luck.
Why some people pay less for insurance in Hampstead
Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. Understanding what influences your rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.
The list below includes some of the factors car insurance companies consider when setting prices.
- Pay less after the wedding – Having a wife or husband actually saves money on your car insurance policy. It is viewed as being more responsible and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- More than one policy can earn a discount – Some car insurance companies give discounts to policyholders who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you’re getting this discount you still need to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
- Your location is important – Residing in less populated areas is a positive aspect when buying car insurance. Drivers in populated areas have to deal with more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Lower population means reduced accidents.
- Never allow your policy to lapse – Letting your insurance expire will be a sure-fire way to pay more for car insurance. And not only will insurance be more expensive, getting caught without coverage may earn you a revoked license or a big fine.You may have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Maryland department of motor vehicles.
- Don’t skimp on liability – The liability section of your policy will protect you when you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. Liability provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
- Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance – Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. These vehicles protect occupants better and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
- Older drivers pay less – Older drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets. Teenage drivers have a tendency to be less responsible behind the wheel and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.
- Better credit scores mean better rates – A driver’s credit score is a large factor in determining your rates. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than drivers who have lower credit scores. So if your credit rating is low, you could save money insuring your by repairing your credit.
What about my local Hampstead agents?
Some consumers prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! Good agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find lower rates and still choose a local agent.
By using this quick form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to participating agents in Hampstead who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your house as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy!
Picking a company should depend on more than just the price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
What type of Hampstead auto insurance agent is right for you?
If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, there are a couple of types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents can either be captive or independent (non-captive). Both write coverage properly, but it’s worth mentioning the differences because it can impact the selection process.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents have only one company to place business with like Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so keep that in mind. Captive agents are well schooled on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some people will only choose to use a captive agent mostly because of the brand legacy and strong financial ratings.
Shown below are Hampstead captive agents that can give you rate quotes.
- State Farm Insurance – 1421 N Main St – Hampstead, MD 21074 – (410) 239-8800
Independent Agencies or Brokers
These agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part.
When shopping rates, we recommend you contact multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection. Most have the option of insuring with smaller companies which can save you money.
Below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Hampstead willing to provide price quotes.
- Accu-Rate Insurance – – Hampstead, MD 21074 – (443) 507-0505
- Perry Insurance – – Hampstead, MD 21074 – (410) 239-2376
To view a complete directory of licensed insurance agents in Hampstead, please click here.
Once you have received positive feedback to your questions and locked in a price quote, you may have just found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to properly service your car insurance policy.
When might I need an agent?
When choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.
Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if you may require specific advice.
- Am I getting all the discounts available?
- Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
- Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Maryland?
- Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
- Am I covered when driving a rental car?
- Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
Even more information can be read at the Maryland Insurance Administration website. Consumers can read consumer alerts, read state legal mandates and laws, and find out industry alerts.
Advertising myths
Maryland consumers can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings by State Farm and Allstate. All the companies make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you move to their company.
But how can every company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.
All companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, owns a home, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.
Consumers who do not match the “perfect” profile will be quoted a higher premium which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. This emphasizes why you absolutely need to get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.
Quote more, save more
As you shop your coverage around, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate.
Throughout this article, we presented a lot of information how to save on car insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier.
Cost effective car insurance is definitely available from both online companies in addition to many Hampstead insurance agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.