Are you intimidated by the dozens of auto insurance options in Manhattan? Lot’s of other consumers are too. Consumers have so many choices that it can quickly become a lot of work to find the lowest price.
It’s a good habit to get comparison quotes yearly due to the fact that insurance rates trend upward over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance on the internet, so we’re going to give you some solid techniques on how to stop overpaying for insurance.
Buying car insurance in Manhattan is not rocket science. In a nutshell, every driver who carries auto insurance should be able to reduce their rates. But Kansas consumers must know how big insurance companies compete online.
Cheap Manhattan Auto Insurance Comparisons
When shopping for auto insurance there are multiple ways to compare rate quotes and find the best price. The easiest way to find the lowest rates involves getting comparison quotes online. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in several different ways.
- One of the best ways to get quotes would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This form saves time by eliminating separate quotes to each individual auto insurance company. Completing one form will return price quotes from multiple low-cost companies. This is by far the quickest method.
- A harder way to analyze rates requires a visit to each company’s website to complete a price quote. For example, we’ll pretend you want to compare rates from Nationwide, Allstate and Geico. You would have to take the time to go to each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker.
For a list of links to insurance companies in Manhattan, click here.
Whichever way you use, make absolute certain that you use the exact same quote information on every quote. If the quotes have different values for each quote it will be next to impossible to determine the best price in Manhattan. Slightly different insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparing auto insurance rates, know that quoting more gives you a better chance of getting lower pricing.
These discounts can lower your rates
Car insurance companies do not advertise all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down both well-publicized and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance.
- New Car Discount – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
- Accident Waiver – A few companies permit an accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a set time period.
- Club Memberships – Being a member of certain professional organizations could trigger savings on auto insurance.
- Safety Course Discount – Completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Distant Student – Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
- Drive Less and Save – Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
It’s important to note that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you’re out of luck.
What determines how much you pay?
Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings.
- Special features that cut premiums – Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent your vehicle from being stolen.
- Credit scores impact auto insurance rates – Having a bad credit history is a large factor in your rate calculation. If your credit score is not that good, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with lower credit scores.
- Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage in the event that you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides legal defense starting from day one. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
- Bad driving skills means higher rates – A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Even a single ticket can increase rates forty percent or more. If you have dangerous violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent a license revocation.
- Multiple policies with one company can save – Most auto insurance companies will give a discount to policyholders who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s still a good idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
- Sex matters – Statistics demonstrate women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Women and men have accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
Different people need different coverages
When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.
For example, these questions can aid in determining if you might need professional guidance.
- Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
- Should I buy more coverage than the required Kansas minimum liability coverage?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
- Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
- Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
- How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
- Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form.
Additional detailed information can be found at the Kansas Insurance Department website. Consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, file complaints about a company, and read consumer alerts.
Don’t listen to company ads
Companies like Allstate and Progressive continually stream ads on television and other media. All the ads make the same claim about savings after switching to them. But how can every company claim to save you money?
Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a profitable customer could be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Drivers who are not a match for the requirements will be quoted higher prices which leads to business not being written. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That’s the way insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why it’s extremely important to quote coverage with many companies. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.
Quote more, save more
We just showed you quite a bit of information on how to save on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the lowest rates come from a lesser-known regional company.
Insureds switch companies for any number of reasons including high prices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, delays in responding to claim requests or even being labeled a high risk driver. Whatever your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider can be easier than you think.
While you’re price shopping online, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an insured cut collision coverage only to discover later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.