Tightwads Instructions on Saving on Albuquerque Auto Insurance

Have you had enough of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? You’re in the same situation as many other New Mexico consumers. You have so many insurance companies to pick from, and though it is a good thing to have a selection, too many choices makes it more difficult to find the best rates.

Smart consumers take time to get comparison quotes every six months because prices are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you found the best rates a couple years back you will most likely find a better rate today. So forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you the quickest way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

Cheap Albuquerque Auto Insurance Comparisons

Most major insurance companies provide coverage price quotes on their websites. Getting online rates is pretty painless as you simply enter the coverage amounts you desire into a form. After you complete the form, their rating system will obtain credit information and your driving record and quotes a price determined by many factors. Being able to quote online makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the time required to go to several different sites and fill out multiple forms can be a bit repetitive. But it’s absolutely necessary to perform this step if you want to find a better rate.

A quicker way to lower your rates uses one simple form that gets prices from more than one company. This type of form saves time, eliminates form submissions, and makes price shopping online a lot less work. As soon as you send your information, it gets priced and you can select any of the pricing results. If a lower price is quoted, you simply finish the application and buy the new coverage. This process can be completed in a matter of minutes and may save quite a bit of money.

To use this form to compare rates, click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you type in your coverages as shown on your current policy. Doing this guarantees you will receive a rate comparison based on similar coverages.

Pay less by taking advantage of discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always list every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the best known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using. If they aren’t giving you every credit available, you’re paying more than you need to.

Resident Student – Children living away from home attending college without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.
Military Discounts – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with a few auto insurance companies.
Seat Belts Save – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts can save up to 15% off your medical payments premium.
Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down can earn a substantially lower rate.
Multiple Cars – Insuring all your vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
Homeowners Discount – Owning a home in Albuquerque can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
Driver’s Ed – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver’s education in high school.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To see a list of insurers with discount auto insurance rates in New Mexico, click this link.

Online quotes with a local Albuquerque insurance agent

Some people would prefer to buy from a local agent and that is just fine! Good agents can point out coverage gaps and help you file claims. The best thing about getting online price quotes is you may find the lowest rates but also keep your business local.

After filling out this short form, your coverage information is sent to companies in Albuquerque who will return price quotes for your business. There is no need to leave your house since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy!

Picking a company needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Agents should be asked these questions: Albuquerque insurance cheap

Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
What insurance company do they write the most business with?

Insurance agent types

When looking for a local agent, there are a couple of types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Albuquerque agents are either captive or independent. While both can write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning how they differ since it can impact your agent selection.

Captive Agents

These agents work for only one company like Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. Captives are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

The following are captive agents in Albuquerque willing to provide price quote information.

Farmers Insurance Group – 7400 2nd St NW – Albuquerque, NM 87107 – (505) 344-2000
State Farm Insurance – 5850 Eubank Blvd NE # B30 – Albuquerque, NM 87111 – (505) 294-4422
Farm Bureau Insurance – 3109 Carlisle Blvd NE – Albuquerque, NM 87110 – (505) 889-8000
Allstate Insurance – 3296 Coors Blvd NW # D – Albuquerque, NM 87120 – (505) 836-4630
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 10555 Montgomery Blvd NE – Albuquerque, NM 87111 – (505) 323-6200

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When comparison shopping, you should always contact multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.

Listed below is a list of independent insurance agents in Albuquerque that can give you price quote information.

Diversified Insurance – 6010 Midway Park Blvd NE # C – Albuquerque, NM 87109 – (505) 237-1488
Jennie J Goff Agency – 4010 Carlisle Blvd NE # F – Albuquerque, NM 87107 – (505) 888-5418
Bob Rey Agency – 1028 Eubank Blvd NE # A – Albuquerque, NM 87112 – (505) 291-0624
Farmers Ferraro Agency – 3916 Carlisle Blvd NE # D – Albuquerque, NM 87107 – (505) 314-9209
American National Insurance Co – 5850 Eubank Blvd NE # B21 – Albuquerque, NM 87111 – (505) 293-9496

For a full directory of insurance agents in Albuquerque, go to this page.

Once you have good answers to any questions you have and an acceptable price quote, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that will properly insure your vehicles.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions can aid in determining whether or not you may require specific advice.

Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Is pleasure use cheaper than using my vehicle to commute?
When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in New Mexico?
Should I buy only the required New Mexico minimum liability coverage?
Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Informed Drivers can Cut Their Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in better auto insurance rates.

Listed below are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

Older drivers pay less – Teenage drivers in New Mexico have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
You might want pay the small claims yourself – Insurance companies in New Mexico award discounts to people who file claims infrequently. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Car insurance is designed for larger claims.
Lower miles equals lower premium – The higher the mileage driven each year the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Cars not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle.
Traffic violations increase rates – Only having one ticket can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who don’t get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers with serious tickets such as DUI or reckless driving are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
Don’t let your coverage lapse – Driving with no insurance is illegal and your next policy will cost more because you let your insurance expire. Not only will you pay more, failure to provide proof of insurance can result in a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
What type of vehicle do you drive? – The make and model of the car you drive makes a significant difference in how high your rates are. The lowest base rates tend to be for small economy passenger cars, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.

More quotes mean more savings

Low-cost auto insurance is definitely available from both online companies in addition to many Albuquerque insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

While you’re price shopping online, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

More resources for learning

Even more information can be found at the New Mexico Insurance Division website. New Mexico consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find out industry alerts, report car insurance fraud, and view agent and company licensing information.

Additional helpful sites include III.org’s auto insurance page and this list of insurance agents in Albuquerque, NM.