Buying cheap Caribou car insurance on the web can seem to be difficult for people who are new to online price comaprisons. When there are so many insurers available, how can you even start to compare every company to locate the cheapest rates?
How to Compare Car Insurance in Caribou, ME
There are a variety of methods you can shop for car insurance and some are easier and takes less work. You can spend countless hours talking to local insurance agents in Caribou, or you can stay home and use the web for quick rates.
Many companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to send in one quote, and at least one company then gives them pricing for coverage. This eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for.
To compare pricing click here to open in new window.
One minor caviat to getting quotes like this is buyers cannot specifically choose the providers you want to price. So if you want to select specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we put together a list of car insurance companies in Maine. Click here to view list.
It’s up to you which method you use, but make sure you use the exact same coverages and limits with every price quote. If you compare different deductibles then you won’t be able to make a fair comparison in Caribou.
Are you getting all your discounts?
Companies offering auto insurance do not list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched some of the best known and the more hidden car insurance savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
- Discount for Swiching Early – Select companies give a discount for switching policies prior to your current policy expiring. The savings is around 10%.
- Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with a few car insurance companies.
- Bundle and Save – If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Good Student Discount – A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off your medical payments premium.
- Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
It’s important to understand that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck.
Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent
Certain consumers would prefer to talk to a local agent and that is a personal choice. Educated insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, your insurance data is submitted to insurance agents in Caribou who will battle for your business. There is no reason to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier!
Choosing a company needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- How long has their agency been open in Caribou?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
Best insurance agent in Caribou
When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents from which to choose. Caribou agents are either independent or captive. Both types can insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know the differences since it can impact the type of agent you choose
Agency Captives
Captive agencies can only write with one company and some examples include American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They generally cannot provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. Captive agencies are well schooled on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers often buy from captive agents mostly because of high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When shopping rates, we recommend you get quotes from several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison. They often place coverage with smaller companies which can be an advantage.
Below are independent agencies in Caribou willing to provide price quote information.
- Russell-Clowes Insurance – 118 Bennett Dr – Caribou, ME 04736 – (207) 496-6061
- Guerrette Insurance Co – 15 Sweden St # 2 – Caribou, ME 04736 – (207) 498-8161
- Gallagher Agency – 562 Main St – Caribou, ME 04736 – (207) 498-8775
To view a complete directory of licensed insurance agents in Caribou, please go to this site.
Once you have positive feedback as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that will adequately provide car insurance.
Different people need different coverages
When choosing the best car insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Every insured’s situation is different.
For instance, these questions can help discover if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
- When would I need additional glass coverage?
- Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
- Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- Am I getting all the discounts available?
- How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
- What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
If you’re not sure about those questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Even more information is located at the Maine Bureau of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and learn about insurance regulations.
Detailed coverages of your car insurance policy
Having a good grasp of car insurance aids in choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – This provides protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your vehicle.
Since many Maine drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (50/100/25 in Maine), their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Comprehensive car insurance – Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like vandalism, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and hail damage. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Collision coverages – Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims like sustaining damage from a pot hole, hitting a mailbox, backing into a parked car, scraping a guard rail and colliding with a tree. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Auto liability – This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. It protects you from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show values of 100/300/100 which stand for a limit of $100,000 per injured person, $300,000 for the entire accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, loss of income, legal defense fees and pain and suffering. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Maine state law requires minimum liability limits of 50,000/100,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
Coverage for medical expenses – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for hospital visits, ambulance fees, doctor visits and rehabilitation expenses. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
In Summary
We just presented some good ideas how you can save on car insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the lowest premiums are with a lesser-known regional company.
Drivers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as lack of trust in their agent, not issuing a premium refund, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and policy cancellation. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right car insurance provider is actually quite simple.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are too many instances where an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price.