Shop For East Orange New Jersey Auto Insurance for Less Money With These Proven Techniques

Overpriced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your checking account and put a big crunch on your finances. Shopping your coverage around is a great way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

Multiple insurance companies compete for your business, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurance companies to discover the definitive lowest price

It’s a good habit to compare prices every six months because insurance rates tend to go up over time. Even if you think you had the lowest rates a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance online, so I’m going to show you some excellent ideas to reduce your auto insurance bill.

If you have car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Finding the best rates in East Orange is not that difficult. Although New Jersey drivers do need to know how the larger insurance companies price online insurance.

Factors that affect insurance rates

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

  • Optional equipment can affect rates – Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder car theft.
  • Discounts for married couples – Being married can actually save you money on auto insurance. Having a spouse means you’re more mature and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
  • Poor credit can mean higher rates – Credit score is a important factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have lower credit ratings. So if your credit score is low, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive – Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, and burglary. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more money you’re willing to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Liability insurance protects assets – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage if a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
  • Where do you drive? – The higher the mileage driven every year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Teen drivers pay high rates – Young drivers in New Jersey have a tendency to be more careless behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Having to add a young driver onto your auto insurance can be quite pricey. Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.

Comprehensive Auto Insurance Comparison in East Orange, New Jersey

Shopping for lower auto insurance rates can take time and effort if you don’t understand the most efficient way. You can spend countless hours talking about coverages with agents in East Orange, or you could use online quotes to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

Most of the larger companies participate in an industry program where prospective buyers submit their information once, and each participating company can provide price quotes based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions for every auto insurance company.

To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here (opens in new window).East Orange NJ car insurance

One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is you cannot specify the insurers to get pricing from. If you prefer to choose from a list of companies to compare rates, we have a listing of the cheapest auto insurance companies in New Jersey. View list of New Jersey insurance companies.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but make sure you use exactly the same coverage information for each price quote. If you enter mixed coverages you will not be able to decipher which rate is best in East Orange. Just a small difference in coverages may cause a big price difference. Keep in mind that getting more free quotes helps locate better pricing.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. They all have a common claim of big savings after switching your policy. How can each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk might be a mature driver, has no tickets, and chooses high deductibles. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get the preferred rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Drivers who don’t qualify for this ideal profile will have to pay higher premiums which leads to business not being written. The ads say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That’s the way insurance companies can make those claims. Because of the profiling, drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

These discounts can slash auto insurance rates

Auto insurance companies do not advertise all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the best known as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance.

  • Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accidents.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
  • Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
  • Air Bag Discount – Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings up to 30%.
  • New Vehicle Savings – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
  • Sign Online – Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application over the internet.
  • Student in College – Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.

It’s important to note that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

For a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in New Jersey, click here to view.

When might I need the advice of an agent?

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions may help highlight whether you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

East Orange NJ car insurance

  • Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
  • Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. Visitors are able to learn about specific coverages, view agent and company licensing information, and find disaster information.

One last thing about your coverage

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, an insured cut liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be purchased from both online companies as well as from independent agents in East Orange, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers don’t offer online quoting and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.