9 Must-Know Techniques When Comparing South Kingstown, RI Auto Insurance

Are you overwhelmed by the crazy number of auto insurance choices in South Kingstown? Many other consumers are too. There are so many options available that it can turn into a ton of work to find the perfect company for you.

It’s a good idea to compare prices yearly because insurance rates trend upward over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal on your last policy other companies may now be cheaper. You’ll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about auto insurance on the internet, so I’m going to show you some good information on how to stop overpaying for insurance.

If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you will benefit by learning to reduce the price you pay and still get good coverage. Shopping for affordable coverage in South Kingstown is easy if you know what you’re doing. Rhode Island drivers just need to learn the best way to shop for auto insurance over the internet.

What impacts South Kingstown insurance rates?

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get big savings.

• Higher deductibles cost less – Physical damage deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage insurance, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, and windstorm damage. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.
• Do you work long hours in a high stress job? – Jobs such as real estate brokers, business owners and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average due to stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, occupations like actors, athletes and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
• Drive a safer car and pay less – Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and fewer injuries translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders.
• Bad driving skills means higher rates – Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums than bad drivers. Even a single citation may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers who get serious violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
• Lower rates with optional equipment – Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can help prevent car theft.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance companies do not list all available discounts very clearly, so we took the time to find some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• Pay Now and Pay Less – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
• Bundle and Save – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving fewer miles can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.
• No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts when compared to frequent claim filers.
• New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• One Accident Forgiven – Some insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.

It’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck.

For a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in South Kingstown, follow this link.

Buying auto insurance from a local agent

Some people would rather get advice from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Good agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates and still choose a local agent.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this simple form, your insurance coverage information is sent to companies in South Kingstown who will return price quotes for your business. There is no need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. How cool is that?!

Selecting an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

• Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Can they give you a list of client referrals?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
• Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
• Which company do they place the most coverage with?
• How are they compensated?

To select a specific agent in South Kingstown, please go to this site.

After receiving answers to your satisfaction to your questions and an affordable coverage quote, chances are good that you have found an insurer that can insure your vehicles.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads for car insurance savings by companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. All the ads make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you switch to them.

How do they all make the same claim?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer could be between 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don’t meet the requirements will be charged a higher premium which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. That is why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

More information about auto insurance

Additional detailed information is located at the Rhode Island Division of Insurance Regulation website. Consumers can download brochures, get help finding coverage, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Additional helpful sites include this Car Insurance FAQ and this list of insurance agents in South Kingstown.

One last thing about your coverage

Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including policy cancellation, unfair underwriting practices, high prices and delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason, finding a great new company is not as difficult as it may seem.

Cheap auto insurance can be found both online and with local South Kingstown insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

We just presented a lot of information how to save on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even discover the best prices are with a smaller regional carrier.