10 Tips to Save on Auto Insurance in Woonsocket

Are you tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You’re in the same situation as most other car owners in Rhode Island. Online insurance companies like Progressive, GEICO and Farmers Insurance increase brand awareness with ads and it is difficult to see past the geckos and flying pigs and find the best price available.

It’s a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates yearly because insurance rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Even if you think you had the best price on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance online, so we’re going to give you the best ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can follow these tips to find the best rates and possibly find even better coverage. Buying car insurance in Woonsocket is not rocket science. Rhode Island consumers just need to learn the best way to find the lowest price over the internet.

Take these ten discounts and save

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always advertise all their discounts very well, so we break down both the well known and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance. If you don’t get every credit available, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free prior to the accident.
• Auto/Life Discount – Some companies give a discount if you purchase life insurance.
• Claim Free – Claim-free drivers pay less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
• Air Bag Discount – Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings up to 30%.
• Multi-car Discount – Having more than one vehicle on one policy qualifies for this discount.
• Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver’s ed class in school.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
• Discount for Good Grades – Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
• Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could save 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way.

For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Rhode Island, click here.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions might point out if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.

• Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
• Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
• Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
• Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
• Does my vehicle qualify for pleasure use?
• Who is covered by my policy?
• Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
• Do I need roadside assistance coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent

Some people would rather talk to a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Good agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates but also keep your business local.

Upon completion of this quick form, the coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered directly to your email.

Choosing a company requires more thought than just a cheap price. These questions are important to ask:

• Does the agency support the community they serve?
• What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
• Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
• Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
• Will your rates increase after a single accident?
• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Rhode Island?
• Who are their largest clients?

If you want to select a specific agent in Woonsocket, view this link.

Once you have positive responses for all questions you ask and a low price estimate, most likely you have located an insurance company that meets your needs to insure your vehicles. But keep in mind you can always cancel your coverage for any reason so never assume you’re contractually obligated to any specific agency for the entire policy term.

Auto insurance coverage options

Learning about specific coverages of your auto insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the usual coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers

Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your vehicle.

Since many Rhode Island drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.

Collision protection

This covers damage to your vehicle from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against claims like damaging your car on a curb, colliding with a tree, sustaining damage from a pot hole and crashing into a ditch. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

Medical expense insurance

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for immediate expenses for dental work, X-ray expenses, pain medications, prosthetic devices and EMT expenses. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive (Other than Collision)

This will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as rock chips in glass, damage from flooding and fire damage. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Auto liability insurance

This coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people in an accident. It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 which stand for a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as legal defense fees, funeral expenses, attorney fees and loss of income. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. Rhode Island state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.

Learn more today

Additional detailed information can be read at the Rhode Island Division of Insurance Regulation website. Rhode Island consumers can download brochures, find disaster information, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Final thoughts

We’ve covered a lot of tips how to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a lesser-known regional company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or GEICO.

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, drivers have reduced collision coverage to discover at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.