10 Must-Know Tips When Shopping for Gallup Car Insurance

Finding cheap Gallup car insurance on the web can be challenging for beginners to price shopping online. When there are so many insurers to choose from, how can anyone have a chance to compare every one to find the lowest price available?

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Gallup is not rocket science. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. New Mexico vehicle owners only need an understanding of the tricks to shop their coverage around over the internet.

Comprehensive Gallup Car Insurance Comparison Quotes

There are several ways you can shop for car insurance but some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can waste hours talking about coverages with agents in Gallup, or you can utilize the internet to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

All the larger companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to complete one form, and every company returns a rated price determined by their information. This saves time by eliminating quote requests for each company you want a rate for.

To compare pricing click here to open in new window.

The only downside to doing it this way is you don’t know exactly which providers to get pricing from. If you wish to select specific insurance companies to request quotes from, we have a page of low cost car insurance companies in New Mexico. Click here to view list.

However you get your quotes, compare apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles for every company. If you are comparing different limits and deductibles on each one you can’t possibly decipher which rate is best in Gallup.

Discounts are basically free money

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always publicize all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

Safe Drivers – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more than drivers with accidents.
Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less as compared to bad drivers.
Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
Employee of Federal Government – Simply working for the federal government may qualify you for a discount with a few car insurance companies.
Drive Less and Save – Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
Paperless Signup – Certain companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application digitally online.

Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.

For a list of insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts in Gallup, click here.

Quote online but still have a local agent

A small number of people prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! Professional agents can help determine the best coverages and give you peace of mind. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the lowest rates but also keep your business local.

After filling out this short form, the coverage information gets sent to local insurance agents in Gallup who will battle for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. How’s that for easy! free New Mexico insurance quote

Picking an provider shouldn’t rely on just a low price. These are valid questions to ask:

Is working in the agency their full-time job?
Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
Can they give you a list of client referrals?
Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
If you have an accident, will your rates go up?

Below is a list of insurance companies in Gallup that may be willing to give price quote information.

Allstate Insurance Co – 911 Metro Ave # 11, Gallup, NM 87301 – (505) 863-4481
Farmers Insurance Group – 114 S Boardman Ave, Gallup, NM 87301 – (505) 863-4421
C & R Insurance – 1365 Highway 491, Gallup, NM 87301 – (505) 863-2340
State Farm Insurance – 1615 S 2nd St, Gallup, NM 87301 – (505) 863-9361
C & R Insurance – 912 E Aztec Ave, Gallup, NM 87301 – (505) 863-3289

For a full directory of Gallup insurance agents, simply jump to this page.

After getting reasonable responses for all questions you ask and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to a company that can properly insure your vehicles.

You may need specialized coverage

When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
Am I getting all the discounts available?
Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
Should I buy more coverage than the required New Mexico minimum liability coverage?

If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Factors that affect insurance rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.

Listed below are a few of the “ingredients” companies use to determine prices.

You might want pay the small claims yourself – If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Car insurance companies in New Mexico give discounts to policyholders who file claims infrequently. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Optional equipment can affect rates – Owning a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent your car from being stolen.
Do you know your deductibles? – The deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage insurance, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be colliding with a building, damage from fire, or theft. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.
Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – Your policy’s liability coverage is the protection in the event that you are found liable for damages from an accident. Liability provides you with a defense in court starting from day one. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
Pay less if you’re married – Having a wife or husband can actually save you money on your policy. Having a significant other translates into being more mature than a single person and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a ton of extra coverages that you can buy when buying car insurance. Things like rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but if you don’t need them remove them from your policy.
Traffic citations inflate rates – A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Just one ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. If you have dangerous violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent a license revocation.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

New Mexico consumers can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all say the same thing about savings if you move your coverage to them.

How can each company make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and chooses high deductibles. Any driver who fits that profile will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don’t meet these standards will be quoted higher prices which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers that switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. This is how insurance companies can state the savings. This emphasizes why you absolutely need to get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Keep this in mind

Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like lack of trust in their agent, poor customer service, delays in paying claims or even denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new company can be easier than you think.

Cheaper car insurance can be bought both online as well as from independent agents in Gallup, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

More New Mexico car insurance information

Additional detailed information can be found at the New Mexico Insurance Division website. Consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, report car insurance fraud, read consumer alerts, and learn about specific coverages.