Tightwads Guide to Saving on Salem Auto Insurance

Consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online might discover shopping for affordable Salem auto insurance very challenging.

It’s a great practice to compare rates once or twice a year since rates change regularly. Just because you found the lowest rates a few years ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Starting now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. The purpose of this article is to let you in on how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. Although New Hampshire car owners must know how insurance companies price online insurance and take advantage of how the system works.

How your Salem rates are determined

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the factors companies use to determine your rates.

• Your location affects your rates – Choosing to live in less populated areas can save you money when talking about auto insurance. Fewer people means fewer accidents. Drivers in populated New Hampshire areas have traffic congestion and longer commutes to work. More time commuting can result in more accidents.
• Multi-policy discounts can save money – Most auto insurance companies will give a discount to policyholders who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
• Save money with special equipment – Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder your car from being stolen.
• High performance equals high price – The make and model of the car you own makes a substantial difference in your rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
• Younger drivers pay higher rates – Teen drivers in New Hampshire are known to be careless and easily distracted in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
• Choose a safe vehicle and save – Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Salem, New Hampshire

All major auto insurance companies give insurance quotes on their websites. Getting online rates is pretty easy as you just type in the amount of coverage you want into a form. After the form is submitted, their system will obtain credit information and your driving record and returns pricing information based on these factors.

Quoting online simplifies rate comparisons, but having to visit many different websites and complete many quote forms is repetitive and time-consuming. But it’s absolutely necessary to compare as many rates as possible in order to find the lowest price.

A quicker way to locate the lowest prices uses one form to get prices from several companies at one time. The form is fast, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes comparison shopping much simpler. Immediately after submitting the form, your coverage is rated and you are able to buy any of the quote results. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, it’s easy to complete the application and buy the new coverage. This process only takes a few minutes and you’ll know if lower rates are available.

If you want to get comparison pricing now, click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you replicate the coverages exactly as they are listed on your policy. Doing this assures you will have a fair comparison for similar coverage.

The fine print in auto insurance ads

Auto insurance companies such as Allstate and Progressive consistently run ads in print and on television. They all seem to make the same claim that you’ll save big if you change to their company. But how can every company claim to save you money?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer could possibly be a mature driver, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential insureds who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will be charged higher prices and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s why companies can claim big savings. That is why you should get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Don’t miss these discounts

Companies don’t list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both the well known and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance.

• Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
• Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
• Drive Safe and Save – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than drivers with accidents.
• Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents can save substantially compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Drive Less and Save – Low mileage vehicles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
• Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
• Multiple Policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Club Memberships – Being a member of a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break on your policy.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you’re out of luck.

For a list of insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in New Hampshire, click here.

Online quotes with a local Salem insurance agent

A small number of people would rather buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. The best thing about price shopping on the web is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your insurance data gets sent to insurance agents in Salem who will give you bids to get your business. You never need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to your email. How’s that for easy! Get lower rates AND an agent nearby.

Deciding on an provider requires more thought than just a low price. Agents should be asked these questions:

• Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
• Is working in the agency their full-time job?
• Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
• If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?

Shown below is a list of insurance companies in Salem that may be willing to give price quote information.

• Foy Insurance – 130 Main St # 103, Salem, NH 03079 – (603) 898-6320
• State Farm Insurance – 220 Main St, Salem, NH 03079 – (603) 898-5220
• Pappathan Insurance Inc – 51 Main St # 2, Salem, NH 03079 – (603) 893-5525

To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in Salem, go to this page.

After receiving answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an insurer that is a good match to properly service your auto insurance policy.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.

• Am I getting all the discounts available?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• What can I do if my company denied a claim?
• Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
• When should I remove comp and collision on my vehicle?
• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
• Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
• Should I buy additional glass protection?

If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Additional detailed information is available at the New Hampshire Insurance Department website. New Hampshire consumers can download brochures, read consumer alerts, learn about specific coverages, and view a list of available companies.

Additional helpful sites include Wikipedia and this link which helps you find a Salem agent.

A little work can save a LOT of money

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Budget-conscious auto insurance is possible online and with local Salem insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

Consumers change insurance companies for any number of reasons including delays in paying claims, not issuing a premium refund, delays in responding to claim requests and lack of trust in their agent. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be easy and end up saving you some money.