Secret Techniques for Buying Montpelier Vermont Car Insurance at a Discount

Tired of paying out the nose to buy car insurance? You’re in the same situation as many other Vermont consumers. Because you have many different company options, it can be impossible to pick the lowest price company.

You should take the time to do rate comparisons occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates trend upward over time. If you had the lowest price two years ago other companies may now be cheaper. There is a lot of bad advice regarding car insurance on the internet, so by reading this article, you’re going to learn a bunch of ideas how to save money.

Don’t overlook these discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you can get discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically prior to receiving the credit. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• One Accident Forgiven – A few companies allow you one accident before your rates go up as long as you don’t have any claims for a certain period of time.
• Organization Discounts – Belonging to certain professional organizations could trigger savings when shopping for car insurance.
• Senior Discount – If you’re over the age of 55, you may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
• Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home may trigger a car insurance policy discount because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.
• Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Multiple Policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
• Military Rewards – Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
• Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won’t be that lucky. Any qualifying discounts will cut your premiums.

To see a list of providers with discount car insurance rates in Montpelier, click here.

Don’t I need to talk to an agent?

Some consumers prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for local businesses is definitely important in Montpelier.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Montpelier who will compete for your business. You won’t need to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy!

Two different types of auto insurance agents

If you’re trying to find local Montpelier agents, there are two types of agencies to choose from. Agents can either be captive or independent (non-captive). Both do a good job, but it’s important to know how they are different since it may influence your agent selection.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.

When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.

Below is a list of independent agencies in Montpelier that may be able to provide rate quotes.

David Zophin Agency – 2 Moonlight Ter – Montpelier, VT 05602 – (802) 223-1990
Union Mutual Fire Insurance Co – 139 State St – Montpelier, VT 05602 – (802) 223-5261
James E Fewer Insurance – 81 Berlin St – Montpelier, VT 05602 – (802) 223-6030

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies can only place business with one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Captives cannot shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents receive extensive training in insurance sales which can be an advantage.

Picking a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. These are valid questions to ask:

• Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
• Who are their largest clients?
• Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
• Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?

Once you have good answers to any questions you have and a good coverage price, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that can properly insure your vehicles.

Additional resources for Vermont consumers

Additional car insurance information is located on the website for the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation through this link. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, find disaster information, and discover disciplinary actions.

Online plus local equals savings

Cost effective car insurance can be purchased online and with local Montpelier insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies do not offer online quoting and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many situations where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.