Little Known Advice on Saving Money on Rochester Car Insurance

Finding the lowest price for Rochester car insurance might seem complicated at first if you’re new to online quoting. Don’t let that stop you because we’re going to show you how.

How to Compare Car Insurance in Rochester, New York

There are a lot of ways you can shop for car insurance but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You can waste hours discussing policy coverages with local insurance agents in Rochester, or you could use online quotes to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most car insurance companies take part in a program that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and each company can give them a price determined by their information. This eliminates the need for form submissions for each company.

To access this free quoting program, click to open in new window.

The only drawback to getting quotes like this is you are unable to specify which carriers you will receive quotes from. If you would rather choose from a list of companies to compare, we have a page of companies who write car insurance in New York. Click here for list of insurance companies in New York.

Whichever way you use, make sure you use the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you enter different liability limits it’s not possible to determine which rate is truly the best in Rochester. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits may cause a big price difference. And when quoting car insurance, remember that comparing more company’s prices gives you a better chance of getting the best offered rates.

Don’t overlook these discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before they will apply.

Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a professional or civic organization may earn a discount when shopping for car insurance.
Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down could qualify for better rates on cars that stay parked.
Payment Discounts – If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Accident Waiver – A few companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.

Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

For a list of providers who offer car insurance discounts in New York, click this link.

What if I want to buy from a local Rochester agent?

Certain consumers would rather visit with an insurance agent. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you may find the best rates and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting local agencies is important especially in Rochester. save money concept

After completing this form (opens in new window), your information is emailed to participating agents in Rochester who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no reason to drive around because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. How cool is that?! It’s the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.

If you wish to view licensed agents in Rochester, please go to this site.

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

Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
Who are their largest clients?
Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
Is working in the agency their full-time job?
What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
Can they provide you with a list of referrals?

Upon getting positive feedback to any questions you have and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an provider that is a good match to insure your vehicles.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Rochester

It’s important that you understand the factors that go into determining the price you pay for car insurance. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with better car insurance rates.

Listed below are some of the factors car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Marriage pays dividends – Being married can actually save you money on your policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature and responsible and it’s statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Women pay lower rates – Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive car insurance rates.
Rate your vehicle for proper use – Driving more miles each year the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your car insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage.
Teen drivers pay high rates – Youthful drivers in New York are known to be careless and easily distracted in a vehicle so they pay higher car insurance rates. Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
Add-on coverages can add up – There are quite a few add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying car insurance. Things like roadside assistance, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea initially, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.

Car insurance myths debunked

Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads in print and on television. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you move your policy. How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk might be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and has a short commute. Any driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and most likely will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential insureds who do not match these standards will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That’s why insurance companies can confidently state the savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers must get quotes from several different companies. Because you never know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

And the best car insurance company is…

Discount car insurance can be sourced on the web and also from your neighborhood Rochester agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

We covered many tips how you can compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the lowest premiums are with a smaller regional carrier.

Drivers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as policy non-renewal, questionable increases in premium, unfair underwriting practices and not issuing a premium refund. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching companies can be easy and end up saving you some money.

To learn more about car insurance in New York

Additional car insurance information is available on the New York Department of Financial Services website through this link. New York drivers can find out which companies have the most complaints, file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, and read consumer alerts.