Costing Too Much for Car Insurance in Bath, ME? Here’s How to Save!

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced car insurance? Believe me when I say there are lots of people in the same boat. Lots of insurers contend for your insurance dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a provider and uncover the absolute best rates possible.

If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you can use these techniques to cut your premiums and possibly find even better coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Bath is not that difficult. Maine consumers just need to know the tricks to compare rates over the internet.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but companies offer discounts to reduce the price significantly. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of purchase, but some must be inquired about prior to getting the savings. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Student Driver Training – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
• One Accident Forgiven – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Senior Citizens – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for reduced rates.
• Discount for Swiching Early – Some companies give discounts for signing up before your current expiration date. The savings is around 10%.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
• Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with a few car insurance companies.
• New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Safe Driver Discount – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than drivers with accidents.
• Student in College – Kids in college living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount will reduce the cost of coverage.

For a list of providers with the best car insurance discounts in Bath, click here.

Comprehensive Car Insurance Comparison in Bath, Maine

All the larger car insurance companies quote coverage price quotes on their websites. Obtaining pricing doesn’t take a lot of time as you just type in your coverage information as requested by the quote form. When the form is submitted, their system collects your driving record and credit report and generates a price. This makes comparing rates easy, but the work required to visit several different sites and enter the same data into a form is monotonous and tiresome. But it is imperative to have as many quotes as possible if you want to find lower prices.

There is a better way!

A more efficient way to get multiple rate quotes utilizes a single form to return rates from several companies at one time. The form is fast, requires less work, and makes quoting online a lot less work. After your information is entered, it is quoted with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the quotes that you receive.

If a lower price is quoted, you can simply submit the application and buy the new coverage. It just takes a couple of minutes and may result in a nice savings.

To compare rates using this form now, click here to open in a new tab and enter your information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you copy the insurance coverages as shown on your current policy. This makes sure you will have a fair comparison for exact coverage.

Make smart decisions and save

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better car insurance rates.

• One company can mean more discounts – Most car insurance companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. If you currently are using one company, it’s in your best interest to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by buying car insurance from a different company.
• Special features that cut premiums – Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
• The type of vehicle makes a difference – The performance of the car you are insuring makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates tend to be for lower performance four cylinder passenger vehicles, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
• Safer occupants lowers premiums – Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles protect occupants better and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies passed on to you as lower rates.
• Do you have a high stress job? – Did you know your car insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations such as real estate brokers, social workers and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates because of high stress and lengthy work days. Other occupations such as scientists, historians and performers pay the least.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage

When choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if your situation could use an agent’s help.

• Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• How much liability coverage do I need in Maine?
• Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
• Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
• Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
• Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
• Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Keep this in mind

We just presented a lot of information how to save on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even discover the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as GEICO and State Farm.

When shopping online for car insurance, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

Budget-conscious car insurance can be purchased on the web and with local Bath insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies do not offer online quoting and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Much more information about car insurance in Maine is available on the website for the Maine Bureau of Insurance located here. Maine drivers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read state legal mandates and laws, view a list of available companies, and read consumer alerts.

Other useful links include these car insurance answers and this link where you can get more info about Bath coverage.