Methods for Lowering Your Brewer Maine Auto Insurance Rates

Finding lower rates for Brewer auto insurance is always a challenge for people who are new to buying insurance online. People have so many options that it can be a big hassle to compare prices in Brewer.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in Brewer

There are several ways of comparing price quotes from local in Brewerauto insurance companies. The best method to find the lowest rates is to get quotes online. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

• Probably the best way consumers can make multiple comparisons is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This form keeps you from doing separate quotes for each company. A single form will get you rate comparisons from all major companies. It’s the fastest way to compare.
• A different way to shop for auto insurance online is spending the time to visit the website for every company you want to comare to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, we’ll pretend you want to compare Progressive, 21st Century and GMAC. To get each rate you have to visit each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.

  To view a list of companies in Brewer, click here.

• The hardest way of getting rate comparisons is to spend time driving to local Brewer insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you require the professional guidance of a licensed agent. Drivers can price shop online and get advice from an agent in your area and you’ll learn how to do that later.

Which method you use is up to you, but make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples information for each price quote. If your comparisons have different deductibles it’s not possible to make an equal comparison in Brewer. Just a small difference in insurance coverages can result in a big premium difference. Keep in mind that comparing more company’s prices gives you a better chance of getting a better price.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Car insurance companies don’t always publicize every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both the well known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

• Employee of Federal Government – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
• Club Memberships – Affiliation with a qualifying organization could trigger savings when buying auto insurance.
• Resident Student – Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
• E-sign – A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up online.
• Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
• Defensive Driver – Successfully completing a driver safety course can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies permit an accident before raising your premiums as long as you don’t have any claims for a certain period of time.
• Homeowners Discount – Owning a home in Brewer can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think it’s possible to get free car insurance, you won’t be that lucky.

Your insurance agent down the street

Certain consumers would rather buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. The best thing about comparing rates online is you can get the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent.

To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, the coverage information is transmitted to participating agents in Brewer who will return price quotes for your coverage. There is no need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy! You can find better rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Picking a company requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:

• Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
• Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
• Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
• If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?

Captive or Independent: There is a difference

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Brewer agents are either independent or captive.

Agency Captives

These agents can only write with one company like AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often buy insurance from these agents primarily because of the brand legacy and solid financial strength.

Listed below are captive agents in Brewer willing to provide comparison quotes.

• Allstate Insurance – 221 N Main St – Brewer, ME 04412 – (207) 989-1124

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency.

When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from. They often place coverage with different regional companies which can save you money.

Listed below are Brewer independent agents who can help you get rate quotes.

• Horace Mann Insurance Co – 380 S Main St – Brewer, ME 04412 – (207) 989-9081
• Roland W Grindle Insurance Inc – 63 Union St – Brewer, ME 04412 – (207) 989-7878

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

Upon getting satisfactory answers to any questions you have and locked in a price quote, you’ve probably found a car insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your situation might need professional guidance.

• How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
• Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
• Do no-fault laws apply in Maine?
• Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
• What discounts do I qualify for?
• What is the minimum liability in Maine?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

Why you might pay higher rates in Brewer

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

• High crash test scores lower rates – Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity means less money paid by your insurance company and thus lower rates.
• Men pay higher rates – The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women have accidents at about the same rate, but men have costlier accidents. Men also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
• Pay less after the wedding – Having a wife or husband helps lower the price on your policy. Having a significant other means you’re more responsible and statistics show married couples file fewer claims.
• Bundling policies can get discounts – The majority of auto insurance companies will give a discount to customers who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
• More claims means more premium – Car insurance companies in Maine generally give discounts to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.
• Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Allowing your auto insurance policy to lapse is a fast way to trigger a rate increase. Not only will you pay more, but not being able to provide proof of insurance may earn you a license revocation or jail time.
• Do you know your deductibles? – The deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. The higher the amount you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.

And the best car insurance company is…

While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

In this article, we covered some good ideas how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the lowest premiums are with a small mutual company.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be found from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Brewer agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

Additional reading for auto insurance information

More tips and info about auto insurance can be found at the Maine Bureau of Insurance website. Maine consumers can file complaints about a company, find disaster information, read industry bulletins, and view a list of available companies.