Little Known Advice on Paying Less for Ridgewood New Jersey Auto Insurance

Cutting costs on Ridgewood auto insurance can be a challenge for consumers not familiar with comparing rates online. Drivers have so many companies to choose from that it can be a ton of work to find the best price in Ridgewood.

Buying car insurance in Ridgewood is not that difficult. If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. New Jersey drivers only need to know the tricks to buy auto insurance online.

Cut your auto insurance rates with discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list all available discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the more common and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Drive Less and Save – Fewer annual miles could qualify for better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Driver’s Ed – Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.
• Lower Rates for Military – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
• Club Memberships – Affiliation with certain professional organizations may earn a discount on your policy.
• Employee of Federal Government – Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% with a few auto insurance companies.
• Own a Home – Owning a house in Ridgewood may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you’re out of luck.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

• More people means more accidents – Residing in a small town is a positive aspect when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer drivers means fewer accidents. City drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commutes to work. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.
• Better crash test results mean better rates – Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
• What are your deductibles? – Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your car. Examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, vandalism, or theft. The more expense you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
• Your car’s features help determine rates – Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all aid in stopping auto theft.
• Little extras can really add up – There are a ton of extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t careful. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accidental death and additional equipment coverage are some examples. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
• Careful drivers pay lower rates – Whether or not you get tickets has a huge affect on how much you pay. Careful drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Just one moving violation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Drivers with dangerous tickets like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
• How your age affects price – Teen drivers in New Jersey are statistically proven to be less responsible when driving so auto insurance rates are higher. Adding a teenage driver onto a policy can break the bank. More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
• Never let your coverage lapse – Driving your car without having proper coverage can get your license suspended and you will pay a penalty because you let your insurance expire. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance will get you a license revocation or jail time.

Your local neighborhood insurance agent

Some people prefer to buy from a licensed agent. Agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you may find lower rates and still choose a local agent.

After completing this short form, your coverage information is emailed to participating agents in Ridgewood who will compete for your coverage. You won’t need to leave your house since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier!

Deciding on an insurance company requires more thought than just a cheap price. Agents should be asked these questions:

• How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
• Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in New Jersey?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
• How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
• What insurance company do they write the most business with?

Different types of insurance agencies in Ridgewood

When searching for an insurance agent, there are two different agency structures that you can select. Agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive). Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the difference between them because it can impact the selection process.

Agency Captives

Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company and some examples include AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. They are unable to shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captives are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers frequently buy from captive agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Shown below is a short list of captive agencies in Ridgewood who may provide you with rate quotes.

• State Farm Insurance – 579 Franklin Tpke # 7 – Ridgewood, NJ 07450 – (201) 652-7300
• Allstate Insurance Co – 44 S Maple Ave – Ridgewood, NJ 07450 – (201) 670-0111

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency. When shopping rates, it’s recommended you include multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from. They often place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can save you money.

Below are independent agents in Ridgewood who can help you get rate quotes.

• Merker Insurance Group – 1172 E Ridgewood Ave # 3 – Ridgewood, NJ 07450 – (201) 251-2505
• Aegis Auto World Insurance – – Ridgewood, NJ 7450 – (201) 444-4222

To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in Ridgewood, visit this link.

Once you have reasonable responses to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.

More New Jersey auto insurance information

More detailed New Jersey auto insurance information can be found at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. Visitors are able to find a variety of consumer forms, learn about specific coverages, and learn about insurance regulations.

Online plus local equals savings

Discount auto insurance is attainable on the web and with local Ridgewood insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price.

People who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including questionable increases in premium, delays in responding to claim requests, delays in paying claims or not issuing a premium refund. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a great new company is easier than you think.