Learn How to Buy Darien, CT Car Insurance Like an Informed Consumer

I can’t think of a single person who enjoys paying for car insurance, especially knowing their premiums are through the roof. Drivers have so many car insurance companies to pick from, and though it is a good thing to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates and cut insurance costs.

Finding Car Insurance in Darien, CT

Reducing your insurance rates isn’t really that difficult. You just have to take a few minutes comparing price quotes online with multiple companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The most efficient way to find low rates is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This type of form prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions to each individual car insurance company. One form submission gets you price quotes from car insurance companies with the best prices.

A more time consuming way to analyze rates requires visiting each company’s website and fill out their own quote form. For examples sake, we’ll pretend you want comparison quotes from State Farm, Allstate and Liberty Mutual. You would have to visit each site and enter your policy data, which is why most consumers use the first method.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Darien, click here.

However you get your quotes, compare identical coverage information on every quote. If you are comparing different limits and deductibles on each one it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Darien.

Do drivers who switch really save?

Consumers in Connecticut constantly see and hear ads for cheaper car insurance from companies such as State Farm and Allstate. All the companies make an identical promise that you can save after switching your policy.

How can each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it. save money concept

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a desirable insured could be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. A customer who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile will have to pay higher prices and ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s why insurance companies can advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, drivers should quote coverage with many companies. It’s not possible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Buy Cheaper Car Insurance with These Tips

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that help determine car insurance rates. Understanding what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

Do you know your deductibles? – Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before your car insurance pays a claim. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, insures against damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, damage from fire, or theft. The higher the amount you have to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
Where you reside plays a part – Living in less populated areas has it’s advantages when it comes to car insurance. Drivers who live in large cities tend to have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate.
Better credit scores mean better rates – Having a bad credit rating is a large factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower credit scores. So if your credit rating can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your by repairing your credit.
Teen drivers pay high rates – Young drivers in Connecticut have a tendency to be more careless when driving so car insurance rates are higher. Having to add a young driver onto a policy can be quite pricey. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Not having insurance is a misdemeanor and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage have a gap. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance will get you a revoked license or a big fine.Then you may be required to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Connecticut motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
Protect yourself with liability coverage – Liability coverage is the protection if a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not skimp.

Don’t overlook these discounts

Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched both the well known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.

Distant Student – Kids in college living away from home attending college and do not have a car may be able to be covered for less.
Discount for New Cars – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
Multiple Policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
Homeowners Savings – Simply owning a home may trigger a car insurance policy discount because owning a home requires personal responsibility.
Senior Discount – Older drivers can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.

Drivers should understand that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.

To see a list of insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts in Darien, click here.

Is my situation unique?

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if your situation could use an agent’s help.

When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
Who is covered by my policy?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
When would I need additional glass coverage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.

Quote more, save more

The cheapest car insurance can be bought from both online companies and with local Darien insurance agents, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, an insured cut full coverage only to discover later that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.

For more Connecticut car insurance information

Even more information is available at the Connecticut Insurance Department website. Connecticut drivers can find a variety of consumer forms, report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, and read industry bulletins.