Secret Methods for Buying Biddeford Car Insurance Cheaper

Overpriced car insurance can drain your personal savings and force you to prioritize other expenses. Shopping your coverage around is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to tighten up your finances. Insurance companies such as GEICO, Progressive and Allstate constantly blast consumers with catchy ads and it can be hard to see past the corporate glitz and find the best price available.

It’s a good idea to compare prices before your policy renews because insurance rates go up and down regularly. If you had the best price two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you’re about to find out one of the best ways to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

If you are insured now or need a new policy, you can follow these tips to reduce the price you pay while maintaining coverages. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Biddeford is easy if you know what you’re doing. Maine vehicle owners only need an understanding of the tricks to get comparison rates over the internet.

How much can you save with discounts?

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you can get discounts to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but less common discounts must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• Defensive Driver – Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
• Braking Control Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
• Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accident claims.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks on the same car insurance policy could earn a price break for each car.
• Save with a New Car – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can save up to 30% compared to insuring an older model.

It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce your premiums.

For a list of insurance companies with discount car insurance rates in Maine, click here.

Educated Consumers Know How to Buy Car Insurance Cheaper

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better car insurance rates.

• Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Letting your insurance expire will be a fast way to pay more for car insurance. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance might get you a revoked license or a big fine.You may have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Maine motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
• Your credit rating is important – Your credit rating is a huge factor in determining your rates. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with lower credit scores. Therefore, if your credit history can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
• Don’t get talked into coverage you don’t need – There are many extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t careful. Coverages like rental car reimbursement, accidental death and membership fees are some examples. These coverages may sound good initially, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
• A clean driving record saves money – A bad driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Good drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Even a single citation can increase rates by twenty percent. If you have dangerous violations such as 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.
• Being married can save on car insurance – Getting married helps lower the price on your car insurance policy. Having a significant other translates into being more mature and it’s proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.

How much car insurance do I need?

When it comes to choosing coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions can help discover whether you may require specific advice.

• Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
• Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
• How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Maine?
• Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
• What discounts do I qualify for?
• Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Is there deception in advertising?

Maine drivers can’t get away from ads that promise big savings by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all make the same claim about savings if you change to them.

How does each company say the same thing?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that makes them money. A good example of a preferred risk might be over the age of 40, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. Any new insured who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Consumers who do not match this ideal profile will be charged more money which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That is how insurance companies can state the savings.

That is why it’s extremely important to get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional car insurance information can be read on the website for the Maine Bureau of Insurance located here. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, read industry bulletins, read state legal mandates and laws, and file complaints about a company.

Do the work, save more money

We just presented a lot of information how to shop for car insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the lowest premiums are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.

As you shop your coverage around, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price.