Ultimate Methods for Low-Cost Kittery Maine Auto Insurance

Searching for the most affordable Kittery auto insurance on the web can seem to be problematic for people who are new to online price comaprisons. With a ridiculous number of insurers to choose from, how can consumers possibly compare them all to find the lowest rates?

If you have a current auto insurance policy or are shopping for new coverage, you can follow these tips to reduce the price you pay while maximizing coverage. This information will teach you how car insurance quotes work. Maine drivers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to compare rates over the internet.

Learn How to Lower your Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

• Your location is important – Choosing to live in less populated areas can save you money when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers in populated Maine areas have to deal with traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.
• Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Insurance companies in Maine provide better rates to drivers who do not file claims often. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.
• Are you male or female? – The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women are in accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to get cited for more serious violations such as reckless driving. Youthful male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
• Do you have a high stress job? – Jobs such as lawyers, social workers and dentists have the highest average rates in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Other jobs such as farmers, historians and the unemployed get better rates.
• Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart your car from being stolen.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always publicize every discount very well, so the following is a list of some of the more common as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you don’t get every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because owning a home shows financial diligence.
• Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for a discount up to 10%.
• College Student – Kids in college who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
• Multiple Vehicles – Buying coverage for multiple vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
• Good Student – Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way.

To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in Kittery, click here to view.

But don’t I need an insurance agent?

Certain consumers would prefer to sit down with an agent and that is just fine! Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and give you peace of mind. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is you may find the best rates but also keep your business local.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, the quote information is emailed to local insurance agents who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. How’s that for easy!

Deciding on a company requires more thought than just a low price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• How often do they review policy coverages?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
• If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
• How are claims handled?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
• Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?

Compare rates from both independent and captive car insurance agents

When searching for a local agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies from which to choose. Kittery agents are classified as either independent or captive. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s worth mentioning how they differ because it can impact the type of agent you choose

Agency Captives

These agents have only one company to place business with and examples are State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so they have to upsell other benefits. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers often buy from captive agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.

Independent Insurance Agents

These agents are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part.

When comparing rates, we recommend you include price quotes from several independent insurance agents for the best price selection.Most can insure with different regional companies which can save you money.

Below are independent agents in Kittery that can give you comparison quotes.

• Cole Harrison Agency – 27 Walker St – Kittery, ME 03904 – (207) 439-5981

For a full directory of auto insurance agents in Kittery, visit this site.

After receiving answers to your satisfaction to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s possible that you found an insurance agency that is a good match to provide auto insurance coverage.

The fine print in auto insurance ads

Maine consumers can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings by companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. All the companies make an identical promise that you can save if you change to them.

How do they all make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and most likely will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don’t meet the requirements will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently claim big savings. Because of the profiling, you should compare as many rates as you can. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

When might I need help?

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

These are some specific questions may help highlight if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.

• What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
• How much liability coverage do I need in Maine?
• How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Maine?
• What can I do if my company denied a claim?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
• Does my vehicle qualify for pleasure use?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the Maine Bureau of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, and view a list of available companies.

More effort can pay off

We just presented a lot of tips how to save on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with the smaller companies.

As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced collision coverage only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Cost effective auto insurance can be bought on the web as well as from independent agents in Kittery, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies don’t offer online quoting and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.