Scraping up a payment for overpriced car insurance can take a big chunk out of your personal savings and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparing price quotes is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to help make ends meet.
Big companies like Allstate, Progressive and Geico promote their brand names with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to separate fact from fiction and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
How to Compare Car Insurance in Williston, VT
There are a variety of methods to compare car insurance prices but one way is less labor-intensive and much quicker. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with local insurance agents in Williston, or you can utilize online quoting to get prices fast.
Many insurance companies belong to a marketplace that enables customers to only type in their quote data once, and each company can provide price quotes based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests to each individual car insurance company. To get comparison pricing now click here to open in new window.
The only downside to pricing coverage this way is you cannot specify the companies you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose from a list of companies for rate comparison, we have a listing of the cheapest car insurance companies in Vermont. Click here for list of insurance companies in Vermont.
Whichever method you choose, make darn sure you compare the exact same coverage limits on every quote. If you are comparing different limits and deductibles on each one you can’t possibly determine the lowest rate in Williston. Slightly different insurance coverages could mean much higher rates. And when comparison shopping, getting more free quotes provides better odds of finding a lower rate.
Rate influencing factors
Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for car insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that could result in big savings.
Shown below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.
- More miles equals more premium – The higher the mileage driven each year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your car insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle.
- Sex matters – The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Men and women cause accidents in similar numbers, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically get more serious tickets such as reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high car insurance rates.
- Multi-policy discounts can save money – The majority of companies will award you with lower prices to customers who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, it’s still a good idea to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. Consumers may find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
- Small claims can cost you – If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance companies in Vermont generally give discounts to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
- Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your car insurance policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.
Take advantage of discounts
Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than their less cautious counterparts.
- Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents can save substantially when compared with frequent claim filers.
- Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
- Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
- Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
- Multiple Vehicles – Having multiple vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Defensive Driver – Completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Good Student Discount – A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
- No Charge for an Accident – Some insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven’t had any claims prior to the accident.
- Braking Control Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.
For a list of providers with discount car insurance rates in Williston, click here to view.
What is the best insurance coverage?
When choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions could help you determine if your insurance needs may require specific advice.
- Do I qualify for additional discounts?
- What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
- Are rental cars covered under my policy?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
- Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.
What about using a local agent?
Some people prefer to talk to a local agent and that is OK! The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain better rates but also keep your business local.
After completing this simple form, your information is emailed to local insurance agents who will battle for your insurance coverage. There is no need to drive around as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. How’s that for easy! You can find better rates AND an agent nearby.
Picking a company requires more thought than just a low price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- How are claims handled?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- How are they compensated?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
To select a specific agent in Williston, click here to link.
Upon getting acceptable answers for all questions you ask and a good coverage price, you’ve probably found a company that can properly service your car insurance policy.
Do the work, save more money
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, an accident victim reduced full coverage and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.
We’ve covered a lot of tips how to get a better price on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the best price on car insurance is with a lesser-known regional company. These companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like State Farm, Geico and Nationwide.
More Vermont car insurance information
Even more information is available at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation website. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, view agent and company licensing information, and read consumer alerts.
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