Tested Strategies for Low-Cost Rochester, NH Auto Insurance

Nobody likes having to buy auto insurance, especially when their premiums are too high.

Since consumers have many insurance providers from which to choose, it can be diffult for consumers to locate the cheapest car insurance company.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Rochester, NH

Most companies allow you to get prices for coverage online. The process is pretty easy as you just enter your coverage information into the quote form. Once entered, the system gets your credit score and driving record and returns a price based on many factors. Online quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but having to visit a lot of sites and enter the same data into a form gets old quite quickly. But it’s very important to get many rate quotes in order to get a lower rate.

The quickest way to find cheaper rates uses one simple form that obtains quotes from several companies at one time. This type of form saves time, requires less work, and makes rate comparisons much more enjoyable. As soon as you send your information, your coverage is rated and you can choose your choice of the quote results.

If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you simply finish the application and purchase the new policy. The entire process takes less than 15 minutes and may save quite a bit of money.

To compare rates using this form now, simply click here to open in new window and enter your information. To compare your current rates, we recommend that you enter your coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This helps ensure you will be getting a rate comparison for exact coverage.

Ads can be misleading

Auto insurance companies such as Allstate and Progressive regularly use ads on television and other media. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you move to them. How do they all say the same thing?

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and has a high credit rating. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who fall outside the “perfect” profile will be charged higher premiums which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings.

That is why it’s extremely important to get as many comparisons as possible. Because you never know the company that will have the lowest rates.

Informed Drivers can Cut Their Rates

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get big savings.

The following are some of the factors that factor into your rates.

Do you have a high stress job? – Occupations such as lawyers, executives and accountants have higher rates than average attributed to high stress and lengthy work days. On the flip side, occupations such as farmers, athletes and the unemployed get better rates.
Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – Your policy’s liability coverage will protect you if you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
Big city or small town – Being located in less populated areas can save you money when talking about auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities have to deal with traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents.
Poor driving leads to higher costs – Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Just one speeding ticket may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who have severe citations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to drive a vehicle legally.
High deductibles save money – Your deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates – Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft features like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent your car from being stolen.
Your age impacts your rates – Older drivers tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Youthful drivers tend to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but a few must be specially asked for before you get the savings.

Payment Discounts – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
Life Insurance Discount – Larger companies have better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
Multi-car Discount – Having more than one vehicle on the same auto insurance policy qualifies for this discount.
Driver’s Ed – Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.
Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
Accident Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts as compared to drivers who are more careless.
Seat Belts Save – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

Shop smart and save

Throughout this article, we presented quite a bit of information on how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Drivers may discover the most savings is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Regional companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.

As you shop your coverage around, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where someone dropped collision coverage only to regret that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage for the lowest price.

Additional information is located on the website for the New Hampshire Insurance Department located here. New Hampshire consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, read state legal mandates and laws, and report car insurance fraud.