Easy Ways to Spend Less on Smithfield Rhode Island Auto Insurance

Comparison shopping for Smithfield auto insurance can be difficult for beginners to comparing rates online. Drivers have so many choices that it can be a big hassle to find the best price in Smithfield.

Auto Insurance Comparison Rates in Smithfield, RI

Most companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive quote price estimates on the web. Getting online quotes doesn’t take a lot of time as you simply enter the coverage amounts you desire as detailed in the form. Once entered, their system automatically orders your credit score and driving record and returns a price quote based on many factors.

Online quotes makes it a lot easier to compare rates but having to visit multiple sites and fill out multiple forms is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it’s absolutely necessary to do this if you want to find a lower rate.

There is a better way!

An easier way to find better auto insurance pricing is to use a quote form to return rates from multiple companies. It’s a real time-saver, eliminates repetitive work, and makes quoting online much more enjoyable. As soon as you send your information, it gets priced and you can select any of the quote results.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase coverage. The entire process can be completed in less than 10 minutes and you will know how your current rates stack up.

To compare rates now, click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. If you currently have coverage, we recommend that you enter your coverages as shown on your current policy. This makes sure you are getting comparison quotes for the exact same coverage.

Drivers who switch save $484 a year? Really?

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you move your policy. How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that is profitable for them. For example, a preferred risk could be between 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” will get the preferred rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who are not a match for these standards must pay a more expensive rate and this can result in business not being written. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s why insurance companies can make those claims.

This illustrates why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in better auto insurance rates.

Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Letting your insurance expire will be a quick way to bump up your auto insurance costs. Not only will rates go up, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
Big city or small town – Choosing to live in a rural area has it’s advantages when buying auto insurance. Urban drivers have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
Rates may be lower depending on your job – Jobs such as real estate brokers, architects and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates in part from high stress and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, jobs such as farmers, engineers and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
Multiple policies with one company can save – Some auto insurance companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. Drivers may still find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
Men are more aggressive – The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Men and women are in accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are the most expensive to insure and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
Is your vehicle built for speed? – The make and model of the car you are insuring makes a big difference in how high your rates are. The cheapest insurance rates are usually for small economy passenger models, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Car insurance is not cheap, but you can get discounts to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for before you get the savings.

Resident Student – Any of your kids living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
Sign Early and Save – A few companies offer discounts for signing up before your current expiration date. It can save you around 10%.
Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents can save substantially when compared with drivers who are more careless.
Defensive Driving Course – Taking a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
Seat Belt Usage – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could save 15% off your medical payments premium.
Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy life insurance from them.
Club Memberships – Participating in a professional or civic organization could trigger savings on your policy.
Multiple Cars – Insuring all your vehicles with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.

Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will help reduce the cost of coverage.

To choose insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Rhode Island, click this link.

Everyone needs different coverages

When it comes to choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Every insured’s situation is different.

These are some specific questions might point out if your situation might need professional guidance.

What are the best liability limits?
When should I not file a claim?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
How high should my medical payments coverage be?
Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Smithfield?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Won’t my local insurance agent miss me?

A small number of people prefer to talk to a local agent and that is a personal choice. The best thing about comparing rates online is you can get the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from small agencies is important particularly in Smithfield.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will battle for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to drive around because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy! It’s the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.

Two types of Smithfield auto insurance agents

When searching for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents from which to choose. Agencies in Smithfield are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, it’s recommended you contact multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection.Many can place coverage with different regional companies which can be an advantage.

Below are independent insurance agents in Smithfield who may be able to give you price quotes.

Liberty Mutual Insurance – 20 Cedar Swamp Rd # B – Smithfield, RI 02917 – (401) 232-3268
Aaronson Insurance – 266 Putnam Pike – Smithfield, RI 02917 – (401) 232-3810
Apple Valley Agency – 528 Putnam Pike – Smithfield, RI 2917 – (401) 949-5201

Agency Captives

Captive agents have only one company to place business with like State Farm or Allstate. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers sometimes choose to use a captive agent mostly because of the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.

Shown below is a list of captive insurance agencies in Smithfield who can help you get comparison quotes.

Liberty Mutual Insurance – 20 Cedar Swamp Rd # B – Smithfield, RI 02917 – (401) 232-3268
Allstate Insurance Co – 151 Douglas Pike – Smithfield, RI 02917 – (401) 233-0800

For a full directory of captive agencies in Smithfield, go to this page.

Deciding on an insurance agent should depend on more than just the premium amount. Some important questions to ask are:

Is working in the agency their full-time job?
Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?

Upon receiving answers to your satisfaction and a low price estimate, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that will insure your vehicles.

More effort can pay off

Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how you can save on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies.

Cheap auto insurance is possible both online and also from your neighborhood Smithfield agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, you should never buy less coverage just to save a little money. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

For more information

Additional information is located on the Rhode Island Division of Insurance Regulation website through this link. Rhode Island drivers can read industry bulletins, find out industry alerts, find disaster information, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Other informative sites include this page for auto insurance prices in Rhode Island and this link where you can get more info about Smithfield coverage.