Professional Methods to Cheaper Fairfield, CT Auto Insurance

Cutting costs on Fairfield auto insurance can be nearly impossible for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. Consumers have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a real hassle to find lower rates in Fairfield.

Save big with these discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some trigger automatically at the time of purchase, but less common discounts must be manually applied before you will receive the discount. If you’re not getting every credit available, you are throwing money away.

  • Early Signing – A few companies offer discounts for switching policies before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
  • Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
  • New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
  • Defensive Driving Course – Taking a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
  • Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
  • Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles with the same company qualifies for this discount.
  • Auto/Life Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
  • Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck. But any discount will reduce your overall premium however.

To see a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Fairfield, click here.

Auto Insurance Prices in Fairfield, Connecticut

There are several ways to shop for auto insurance, but some are more efficient than others. You could waste a few hours driving to insurance companies in Fairfield, or you can utilize the internet to get pricing more quickly.

Many popular insurance companies are enrolled in a marketplace that enables customers to submit their information once, and each company can give them a price. This system prevents you from having to do quote forms for every auto insurance company.

To find out how much you can save on auto insurance click here to open in new window.

The only downside to using this type of form is you don’t know exactly the insurers you want pricing from. If you wish to select specific providers to request quotes from, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Connecticut. View list of Connecticut insurance companies.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just be sure to compare exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits with each company. If you are comparing differing limits you can’t possibly determine which rate is truly the best in Fairfield.

Why you might pay higher rates in Fairfield

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are some of the factors that factor into prices.

  • What type of vehicle do you drive? – The type of car you own makes a huge difference in your rates. The most favorable rates tend to be for economy passenger cars, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
  • Bundling policies can get discounts – The majority of companies provide better rates to customers who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you may still want to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
  • Males pay more for insurance – The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don’t assume that women are better drivers. Both sexes have accidents at about the same rate, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also statistically receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Bad driving skills means higher rates – Just one speeding ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive – Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims could be colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and burglary. The more money you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
  • Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are quite a few additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accidental death and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.

Do I need special coverages?

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

These are some specific questions may help you determine if you might need professional guidance.

  • Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • How high should my medical payments coverage be?
  • Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Do I need motorclub coverage?
  • I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
  • Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
  • Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
  • Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Neighborhood agents for auto insurance

Certain consumers prefer to get advice from a local agent and that is a personal choice. Professional agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. The best thing about getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the best rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from local insurance agencies is definitely important in Fairfield.

After filling out this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is submitted to participating agents in Fairfield who will give you bids for your coverage. You never need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy!

Captive or Independent: There is a difference

When finding an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies that you can select. Agencies in Fairfield are classified as either independent or captive. Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the difference between them since it may influence your agent selection.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, it’s recommended you contact at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection. Many write coverage with smaller regional carriers which may provide better rates.

Shown below is a list of independent agencies in Fairfield that are able to give rate quotes.

  • B A Gilhuly Agency – 160 Fairfield Woods Rd # 49 – Fairfield, CT 06825 – (203) 259-8308
  • John M Glover Agency Inc – 1515 Black Rock Tpke – Fairfield, CT 06825 – (203) 367-9959
  • Andrei C Colimitra Insurance – 460 Valley Rd – Fairfield, CT 06825 – (203) 334-7312
  • Connelly Agency Inc – 16 Sherman Ct – Fairfield, CT 06824 – (203) 256-8888
  • CNA Insurance – 1700 Post Rd – Fairfield, CT 06824 – (203) 255-0331
Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies work for only one company and examples are State Farm or Allstate. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage. Consumers frequently buy insurance from these agents mostly because of high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.

Shown below are captive insurance agencies in Fairfield who can help you get price quotes.

  • State Farm Insurance – 222 Post Rd – Fairfield, CT 06824 – (203) 255-5608
  • Allstate Insurance – 607 Kings Hwy E – Fairfield, CT 06825 – (203) 333-9999

For a complete listing of Fairfield captive insurance agents, visit this site.

Selecting an insurance agency requires more thought than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

  • Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
  • Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Connecticut?
  • Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
  • Do they make recommendations based only on price?
  • Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?

After getting positive responses to any questions you have and locked in a price quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that can insure your vehicles.

More effort can pay off

Insureds change insurance companies for many reasons like high rates after DUI convictions, delays in responding to claim requests, questionable increases in premium or even denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new auto insurance company can be easier than you think.

Affordable auto insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Fairfield agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers may not provide the ability to get a quote online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

To find out more about Connecticut auto insurance

Additional auto insurance information is available on the Connecticut Insurance Department website through this link. Connecticut consumers can learn about insurance regulations, learn about specific coverages, read consumer alerts, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Other useful links include this Car Insurance FAQ and see this list of insurance agents in Fairfield.