Expert Advice on Lower Portsmouth, NH Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can empty your checking account and put the squeeze on your family’s finances. Comparison shopping is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to make sure you’re not throwing money away.

Lots of car insurance companies contend for your business, and because of this it can be hard to compare car insurance companies to discover the definitive best rate

It’s important to take a look at other company’s rates before your policy renews because rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal last year you may be paying too much now. Starting now, forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re going to learn one of the quickest ways to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Decisions you make can impact your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. Understanding what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Listed below are some of the items companies use to determine rates.

Do you know your deductibles? – Your deductibles define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and windstorm damage. The more money you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates – Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all aid in stopping car theft.
Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are quite a few additional coverages that can waste your money when buying auto insurance. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and term life insurance may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea at first, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.
Careful drivers pay lower rates – Careful drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Just one ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Drivers with dangerous tickets such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.

Portsmouth Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are a lot of ways you can shop for auto insurance and some are more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance companies in Portsmouth, or you can utilize the web to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

Many popular insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to submit their information once, and every company can provide price quotes determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do quote forms for each company you want a rate for.

To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to doing it this way is buyers cannot specifically choose the insurers to get pricing from. If you would rather choose specific insurance companies to compare, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in New Hampshire. Click to view list.

Which method you use is up to you, but ensure you’re using the exact same quote information for every quote you compare. If you enter unequal deductibles or liability limits it’s impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Portsmouth. Just a small difference in limits may cause a big price difference. And when comparison shopping, more quotes provides better odds of finding a better price.

Discounts can save BIG

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to help bring down the price. Most are applied when you quote, but less common discounts must be inquired about before you will receive the discount.

Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Good Students Pay Less – Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who require all occupants to use a seat belt can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Low Mileage – Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
Student Driver Training – Have your child enroll in driver’s education in high school.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you’re out of luck. Any qualifying discounts will cut your premiums. free Portsmouth NH insurance quote

To choose insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Portsmouth, click here to view.

What about my local Portsmouth agents?

Some people prefer to buy from a licensed agent. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you may find better rates but also keep your business local. Buying from small agencies is important especially in Portsmouth.

After completing this short form, your coverage information is emailed to participating agents in Portsmouth who will compete for your coverage. You won’t need to leave your house since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier! Get lower rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Auto insurance agents in Portsmouth come in two varieties

When searching for a local agent, there are two types of agencies that you can select. Agencies in Portsmouth are categorized either independent or captive.

Independent Agents

Independent agencies do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to contact several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.

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

Prudential Insurance Co – 56 Islington St – Portsmouth, NH 03801 – (603) 431-6007
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 225 Borthwick Ave – Portsmouth, NH 03801 – (603) 431-8400

Captive Agents

Captive agents can only place business with one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies receive extensive training on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

Shown below are Portsmouth captive agents who can help you get comparison quotes.

Liberty Mutual Insurance – 195 Hanover St # 30 – Portsmouth, NH 03801 – (603) 431-3350

To view a full list of captive agents in Portsmouth, please go to this site.

Choosing an insurance agent requires more thought than just the price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
Will your rates increase after a single accident?
Do they make recommendations based only on price?
Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?

Once you have positive responses to all your questions and a good coverage price, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that can service your policy.

When might I need an agent?

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions could help you determine whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
What are the best liability limits?

If you’re not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

Much more information about auto insurance in New Hampshire can be read on the website for the New Hampshire Insurance Department found here. New Hampshire consumers can read consumer alerts, learn about specific coverages, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

More related Portsmouth auto insurance information:

Better coverage you can count on

Low-cost auto insurance is available from both online companies in addition to many Portsmouth insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are too many instances where an insured cut physical damage coverage to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.