6 Excellent Ways to Cut Your Auto Insurance Premium in Dover, DE

I can’t think of a single person who enjoys paying for auto insurance, particularly when their premiums are too high. You have so many auto insurance companies to pick from, and even though it’s nice to have a selection, having more insurance companies makes it harder to find the lowest rates.

Finding the best rates in Dover is not rocket science. If you are insured now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices while maximizing coverage. Delaware consumers only need to know the tricks to compare price quotes over the internet.

Don’t overlook these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not list all their discounts very clearly, so we took the time to find some of the best known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Save with a New Car – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Memberships – Affiliation with certain professional organizations may earn a discount when buying auto insurance.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Having multiple cars or trucks with the same company qualifies for this discount.
• Accident Waiver – A few companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don’t have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
• Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
• Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Good Students Pay Less – Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

To see a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Dover, follow this link.

Tips to Get Lower Dover Rates

It’s important that you understand the factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

• Your age impacts your rates – Older insureds tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets. Teenage drivers have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
• Tickets mean higher rates – Whether or not you get tickets has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Only having one moving violation may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with clean records tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers with flagrant tickets like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
• Where you live can impact rates – Residing in a small town is a positive aspect when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer people means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. City drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commutes to work. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.
• Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs – If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies in Delaware provide cheaper rates to people who are claim-free. Auto insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
• Multiple policies with one company can save – Many companies provide better rates to customers who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount you may still want to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
• Proper usage rating affects rates – The more you drive in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. Most companies rate vehicles based on their usage. Autos not used for work or commuting receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.

It’s not one size fits all

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions may help you determine if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.

• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• Should I buy additional glass protection?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
• Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
• How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
• Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
• Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
• Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
• Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

Comparing rates from local agents

Certain consumers just want to buy from a licensed agent. Professional agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the lowest rates and still choose a local agent.

Once you complete this quick form, the coverage information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Dover who will compete for your coverage. There is no reason to drive around since price quotes are sent to your email. How cool is that?!

Picking an insurer shouldn’t rely on just the price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
• How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
• Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
• Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
• Do they assist clients in filing claims?

Not all auto insurance agents are the same

When finding a good Dover insurance agent, you need to know there are two different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Dover agents can either be independent or captive. Both do a good job, but it’s worth learning the difference between them because it can impact your agent selection.

Agency Captives

Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. These agents are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. They receive extensive training on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.

Shown below is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Dover that can give you comparison quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 450 S Dupont Hwy # B – Dover, DE 19901 – (302) 674-2992
Allstate Insurance – 1005 W State College Rd # 103 – Dover, DE 19904 – (302) 734-2100

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.

Below are Dover independent agencies that can give you price quotes.

Pfister Insurance Inc – 625 S Dupont Hwy # 101 – Dover, DE 19901 – (302) 674-3100
Glenn Deaton Agency – 905 N Dupont Hwy # A – Dover, DE 19901 – (302) 734-3700
Nationwide Insurance – 57 Saulsbury Rd – Dover, DE 19904 – (302) 674-2810
Richard Parsons Agency – 155 N Dupont Hwy – Dover, DE 19901 – (302) 674-2810

To view a complete directory of licensed insurance agents in Dover, please click here.

After getting good answers to your questions and an acceptable price quote, most likely you have located an insurance agency that meets your needs to provide auto insurance coverage.

Don’t believe everything you hear

Consumers in Delaware can’t ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. All the companies say the same thing of big savings after switching to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer they prefer to insure. An example of a preferred risk might be between the ages of 40 and 55, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will be charged a higher premium and this can result in the customer not buying. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That’s why companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. That is why it is so important to get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Delaware Department of Insurance website. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, and read industry bulletins.

Also read more on this Car Insurance FAQ and this page where you can also get Dover auto insurance quotes.

Best coverage at the best price

Cheaper auto insurance is available online and with local Dover insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers do not offer online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

You just learned many ways to shop for auto insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher the chance of saving money. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like State Farm and Allstate.