Learn How to Pay Less and Get More for Plainfield Car Insurance

No one in their right mind looks forward to buying car insurance, especially when their premiums are too high.

Big-name insurance companies like GEICO, Progressive and Allstate increase brand awareness with ads and it is difficult to ignore the promise of big savings and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

You need to check car insurance prices at least once a year because insurance rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Even if you got the lowest rates on your last policy you can probably find a better price now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to one of the best ways to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these tips. Finding affordable coverage in Plainfield is quite easy. But New Jersey vehicle owners can benefit from knowing how the larger insurance companies price online insurance and apply this information to your search.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the best known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

Good Student – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accident claims.
Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have a break if you buy life insurance from them.
Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Homeowners Savings – Simply owning a home may trigger a car insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home demonstrates responsibility.
Save over 55 – Older drivers may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
Drive Less and Save – Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
No Accidents – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less when compared with bad drivers.
Air Bag Discount – Factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.

It’s important to note that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.

Shop online but buy locally

Some consumers prefer to buy from a licensed agent. The best thing about comparing rates online is you may find better rates but still work with a licensed agent.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your insurance data gets sent to agents in your area who will compete for your coverage. You don’t have to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered directly to your email. How’s that for easy! Get lower rates and a licensed agent to work with.

Deciding on an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Some important questions to ask are:

How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
How long has their agency been open in Plainfield?
Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?

Not all car insurance agents are the same

When searching for a good Plainfield insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents from which to choose. Agents are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company and examples are AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents receive extensive training in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.

Listed below are captive insurance agencies in Plainfield willing to provide price quotes.

Allstate Construction Corp – US Highway 22 – Plainfield, NJ 7060 – (908) 755-2401

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are not required to write business for one company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to contact multiple independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Shown below is a list of independent insurance agents in Plainfield that are able to give price quotes.

Insurance Unlimited – 725 W 4th St – Plainfield, NJ 07060 – (908) 754-8000
Meaney Insurance Svc – – Plainfield, NJ 7060 – (908) 271-1800

To view a complete directory of Plainfield insurance agents, visit this link.

Once you have received positive feedback to all your questions and a good coverage price, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that will adequately provide car insurance.

Is there truth in advertising?

Companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you switch your policy. How do they all make almost identical claims?

Different companies can use profiling for the driver they prefer to insure. For example, a desirable insured might be over the age of 40, owns a home, and drives newer vehicles. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.

Drivers who don’t measure up to this ideal profile must pay higher rates and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can advertise the savings. This illustrates why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Informative consumer insurance sites

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, report car insurance fraud, find disaster information, and view agent and company licensing information.

Shop smart and save

As you shop your coverage around, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. Too many times, drivers have reduced full coverage and discovered at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

You just read a lot of ways to lower your car insurance rates. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest premiums are with a small mutual company. These companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive and GEICO.

Cheaper car insurance is available both online as well as from independent agents in Plainfield, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.