Best 7 Tips to Save on Auto Insurance in Narragansett Rhode Island

Finding better rates for Narragansett auto insurance can be challenging for people who are new to shopping for insurance online. There are so many options available that it can easily become a ton of work to find lower rates in Narragansett.

Finding the best rates in Narragansett is quite easy. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using this information. But Rhode Island consumers can benefit by having an understanding of how big insurance companies determine prices.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Narragansett, RI

All major auto insurance companies like State Farm and Allstate give prices on their websites. Getting online rates is pretty painless as you just enter your required coverages into a form. Upon sending the form, the company’s rating system orders reports for credit and driving violations and provides a quote.

Online quotes streamlines rate comparisons, but the time required to go to several different sites and fill out multiple forms is not the best way to spend an afternoon. Unfortunately, it is important to compare as many rates as possible in order to find the best price on auto insurance.

A more efficient way to find cheaper rates uses one simple form that gets price quotes from several different companies. It saves time, requires much less work on your part, and makes online price comparison much more enjoyable. As soon as you send your information, your coverage is rated and you are able to buy any of the pricing results. If you find a better price you can simply submit the application and buy the new coverage. It takes 15 minutes at the most and could lower your rates considerably.

To save time and find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and submit the form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you complete the form with the limits and deductibles identical to your current policy. Doing this guarantees you are getting rate comparison quotes using the exact same coverages.

Don’t pay full price with these seven discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both the well known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

• Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
• Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags can get savings up to 30%.
• Life Insurance Discount – Larger companies have lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
• Anti-theft System – Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn’t work that way.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different.

For example, these questions may help you determine whether or not you might need professional guidance.

• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
• Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
• How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
• Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
• Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
• Does my vehicle qualify for pleasure use?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

More detailed Rhode Island auto insurance information is available at the Rhode Island Division of Insurance Regulation website. Rhode Island drivers can download brochures, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, read consumer alerts, and learn about specific coverages.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. They all seem to have a common claim that you’ll save big if you switch your coverage to them. But how can every company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Consumers who don’t measure up to this ideal profile will be charged higher prices which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do. That is why you should get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know the company that will have the lowest rates.

Specific coverage details

Having a good grasp of auto insurance aids in choosing the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Auto liability insurance – Liability coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as medical services, structural damage, attorney fees and court costs. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. Rhode Island state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

Medical payments coverage and PIP – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses such as funeral costs, doctor visits and hospital visits. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Collision – This coverage pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or object. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers claims like hitting a mailbox, sideswiping another vehicle and crashing into a ditch. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and damage to your vehicle.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.

Comprehensive coverage – This will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from flooding, hail damage, hitting a bird and falling objects. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Final considerations

When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s a bad idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, an insured cut physical damage coverage only to discover later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

People switch companies for many reasons like delays in paying claims, poor customer service, extreme rates for teen drivers or questionable increases in premium. Whatever your reason, switching companies is actually quite simple.

Cheaper auto insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Narragansett agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.