Professional Advice on Lower Central Falls Auto Insurance

Are you tired of being strong-armed to pay your car insurance bill each month? You are no different than millions of other consumers.

Because you have many companies to choose from, it can be hard to choose the most affordable provider.

Factors that affect insurance rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

• Protect yourself with liability coverage – The liability section of your policy is the coverage that protects you in the event that you are found liable for damages from an accident. It will provide you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
• Pleasure use saves money – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your auto insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle.
• Battle of the sexes – Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, don’t assume that women are better drivers. Men and women tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving.
• Do you know you’re credit rating? – Credit score is a huge factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. People with good credit tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with lower ratings. So if your credit score is low, you could pay less to insure your by repairing your credit.

Do you qualify for a discount?

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help offset the cost. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but less common discounts must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.

• Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Student in College – Any of your kids who are attending college and do not have a car may be able to be covered for less.
• Paperwork-free – A few companies will give a small break for buying your policy over the internet.
• New Vehicle Savings – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
• Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
• Multi-car Discount – Insuring more than one vehicle on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• Driver Safety – Taking a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.

Consumers should know that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck. Any qualifying discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

For a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Central Falls, click here to view.

But I prefer to buy car insurance from an agent

Some people just want to talk to a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you may find the best rates but also keep your business local. Supporting local agencies is important especially in Central Falls.

Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is sent to agents in your area who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no reason to leave your computer as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy! You can find the lowest rates AND a local agent.

To select a specific agent in Central Falls, please click here.

Deciding on an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

• Who are their largest clients?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
• What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
• How often do they review policy coverages?

Once you have received satisfactory answers as well as a affordable price, most likely you have located an insurance company that can insure your vehicles.

More Rhode Island auto insurance information

More information is located on the website for the Rhode Island Division of Insurance Regulation. Click here for link. Rhode Island consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about a company, and get help finding coverage.

Other useful links include III.org’s auto insurance page and this page where you can research Central Falls insurance agents.

Quote more, save more

Low-cost auto insurance is definitely available on the web in addition to many Central Falls insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies do not provide online quoting and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, it’s very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage only to discover later that it was a big error on their part. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.