Saving money on Branford car insurance can seem to be hard for consumers not familiar with comparison shopping online. Drivers have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a real hassle to locate the lowest price in Branford.
If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to save some money using this information. The purpose of this article is to instruct you on how to get online quotes. Nevertheless, Connecticut consumers do need to learn how insurance companies sell online and take advantage of how the system works.
More discounts equal less premium
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, buy you may qualify for discounts to help offset the cost. A few discounts will automatically apply when you purchase, but a few must be specially asked for before you will receive the discount.
- Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Auto/Life Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
- College Student – Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
- Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Lower Rates for Military – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
- Good Student – Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
- Accident Forgiveness – A few companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
- Safety Course Discount – Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will help reduce your premiums.
To choose insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in Connecticut, follow this link.
What determines how much you pay?
It’s important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.
Listed below are some of the items car insurance companies consider when setting rates.
- Always keep insurance in force – Not having insurance can get your license suspended and your next policy will cost more because you let your insurance lapse. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage might get you a steep fine or even jail time.Then you may be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Connecticut department of motor vehicles.
- Bad driving skills means higher rates – Your driving citation history has a huge affect on how much you pay. Drivers who don’t get tickets get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Even a single speeding ticket can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who have flagrant citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
- Consolidate policies to earn discounts – The majority of insurers will award you with lower prices to insureds who consolidate policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even with this discount, you still need to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal.
- Performance makes a difference – The type of vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a substantial difference in your rates. The most favorable rates tend to be for economy passenger vehicles, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
- Men fork out a little more – Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. Now that doesn’t mean men are worse drivers. Men and women cause accidents in similar numbers, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also get cited for more serious violations such as reckless driving.
- Pleasure use saves money – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year’s time the higher your rate. Almost all companies rate vehicles based on their usage. Vehicles left parked in the garage get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your car insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven.
- Safer cars cost less to insure – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies passed on to you as lower rates.
It’s not one size fits all
When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Every insured’s situation is different.
For example, these questions can aid in determining if your situation will benefit from professional help.
- Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
- Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
- Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
- Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
- Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Connecticut?
- Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Connecticut?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form.
Switch companies and save? Really?
State Farm, Allstate and Geico regularly use ads in print and on television. All the companies have a common claim of big savings if you move to them. How do they all claim to save you money?
All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer could be over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and drives newer vehicles. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save a lot of money.
Drivers who don’t meet these standards will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads say “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That’s the way companies can truthfully state the savings.
Because of the profiling, it is so important to get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.
Read more about Connecticut car insurance
More information can be found on the Connecticut Insurance Department website. Click here for link. Connecticut consumers can view a list of available companies, find a variety of consumer forms, and learn about specific coverages.
Other informative sites include QuoteClickInsure.com and this list of insurance agents in Branford, CT.
In Summary
Insureds switch companies for many reasons like denial of a claim, delays in paying claims, high prices and even unfair underwriting practices. Regardless of your reason, switching companies is less work than it seems.
Cheap car insurance can be purchased both online and with local Branford insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
As you prepare to switch companies, don’t be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where an insured cut liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big error on their part. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford.