Top 7 Ways You Can Buy Auto Insurance for Less in New York, NY

Finding lower premiums on New York auto insurance can be difficult for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. People have so many companies to choose from that it can quickly become a lot of work to find lower rates in New York.

This article will teach you the most effective way to quote insurance and some money-saving tips. If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. New York vehicle owners only need to know the proper methods to compare prices online.

Save money by taking advantage of these seven discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will automatically apply at quote time, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for before you get the savings. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Multi-policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you may save up to 20% off your total premium.
Organization Discounts – Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings when buying auto insurance.
Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for all your vehicles with the same company qualifies for this discount.
New Car Discount – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to enroll in driver’s education if offered at their school.
Accident Waiver – Certain companies will forgive one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.

It’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will reduce your premiums.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in New York, follow this link.

When should I use an insurance agent?

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique.

These are some specific questions might point out whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in New York?
Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
What are the best liability limits?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

Do drivers who switch really save $432 a year?

New York consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim about savings after switching to their company.

How do they all make almost identical claims?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured could be a mature driver, owns a home, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential customers who don’t meet these standards must pay more money which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. This is how insurance companies can make those claims.

This illustrates why you should compare as many rates as you can. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

More resources for learning

Much more information about auto insurance in New York can be read on the New York Department of Financial Services website. Click here for link. New York drivers can report car insurance fraud, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find out which companies have the most complaints. save money image

The following articles may also be useful.

Specific coverage details

Learning about specific coverages of your policy can help you determine appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.

Since many New York drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 25/50/10), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Usually these limits are set the same as your liablity limits.

Comprehensive coverages

This coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as rock chips in glass, falling objects, vandalism and fire damage. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Collision protection

This pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or object. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision can pay for claims like crashing into a building, sideswiping another vehicle and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Coverage for medical payments

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for short-term medical expenses like nursing services, EMT expenses and funeral costs. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Liability insurance

This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 25/50/25 which means a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which combines the three limits into one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability can pay for claims such as repair costs for stationary objects, medical services, court costs and pain and suffering. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. New York requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/10,000 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.

Best coverage at the best price

Cost effective auto insurance is attainable on the web as well as from independent agents in New York, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who don’t offer online quoting and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Consumers change insurance companies for any number of reasons including delays in paying claims, questionable increases in premium, policy cancellation and being labeled a high risk driver. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that they should have had better coverage. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while still protecting your assets.