York Auto Insurance Buying Tips You Aren't Supposed to Know

Are you tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul to buy car insurance? Your situation is no different than most other car owners in Maine.

Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with advertising and it is difficult to see past the geckos and flying pigs and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It is always a good idea to price shop coverage before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance rates change regularly. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to one of the best ways to find great coverage at a great price.

If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these tips. Choosing the best insurance company for you in York is quite easy. But Maine consumers must comprehend how insurance companies market insurance on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

Cut your premium with discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always advertise all available discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

Safe Driver Discount – Safe drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accident claims.
Resident Student – Any of your kids who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of more than 20%.
Sign Online – A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.
Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Defensive Driver – Completing a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.

It’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage

When choosing the right insurance coverage, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Online quotes with a local York insurance agent

A small number of people prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is you can get the best rates and still have an agent to talk to.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, the quote information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will compete for your coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. How’s that for easy! It’s the lowest rates AND an agent nearby. York ME car insurance prices

Picking an insurer needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. These questions are important to ask:

Who are their largest clients?
How are they compensated?
Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
Does the agency support the community they serve?
Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?

Best insurance agency in York

When searching for a good York insurance agent, there are two types of agencies that you can select. Insurance agencies in York can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents can only write with one company such as State Farm or Allstate. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they have to upsell other benefits. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.

Listed below is a list of captive insurance agencies in York that can give you comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 18 York St – York, ME 03909 – (207) 363-8604

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency. When searching for an agent, we recommend you include several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Shown below is a list of independent agents in York willing to provide comparison quotes.

Nationwide Insurance – 118 York St – York, ME 03909 – (207) 363-8902
Ellis Insurance – 196 York St – York, ME 03909 – (207) 363-7670

For a full directory of auto insurance agents in York, go to this page.

Once you have reasonable responses to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that meets your needs to adequately provide auto insurance.

The fine print in auto insurance ads

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you move your coverage to them. But how can every company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as a mature driver, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and most likely will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Drivers who do not match this ideal profile will be charged higher rates and this can result in business not being written. The ads say “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can state the savings. That is why it’s extremely important to get as many quotes as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Quote more, save more

Lower-priced auto insurance is definitely available both online in addition to many York insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. A few companies do not provide online price quotes and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where an insured cut physical damage coverage only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate.

York Auto Insurance Buying Tips You Aren’t Supposed to Know