Learn How to Pay Less for West New York Car Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy high-priced car insurance? Trust us, you’re not alone.

You have multiple auto insurance companies to pick from, and even though it’s nice to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates and find the lowest cost car insurance.

It’s a great practice to take a look at other company’s rates on a regular basis due to the fact that insurance rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Just because you had the lowest rates six months ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you’re about to learn the quickest way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in West New York is not rocket science. If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. But New Jersey car owners benefit from understanding how insurance companies sell online and apply this information to your search.

Cut your premium with discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always publicize all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the more common and the more hidden car insurance savings.

  • More Vehicles More Savings – Insuring multiple cars or trucks with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • College Student – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car may be able to be covered for less.
  • 55 and Retired – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for reduced rates.
  • Drivers Education – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
  • Good Students Pay Less – This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
  • Sign Early and Save – Select companies give a discount for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. It can save you around 10%.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
  • Paperless Signup – A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application online.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To see a list of insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in New Jersey, click here to view.

Get Cheaper Rates by Understanding Pricing

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to big savings.

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

  • Occupation reflects on rates – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for car insurance? Jobs such as judges, social workers and financial analysts are shown to have higher average rates due to high stress and long work hours. Conversely, professions such as farmers, engineers and homemakers pay the least.
  • Proper usage rating affects rates – Driving more miles each year the higher your rates will be. Almost all companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos that are left in the garage receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Verify your car insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Performance makes a difference – The performance of the vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in how high your rates are. The lowest base rates tend to be for lower performance four cylinder passenger cars, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
  • Having a spouse can save you money – Getting married helps lower the price on car insurance. Marriage means you’re more responsible and it’s statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money – The majority of car insurance companies will give a discount to insureds who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you’re getting this discount you may still want to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
  • Mature drivers pay less – Young drivers in New Jersey have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel so they pay higher car insurance rates. Older insureds are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
  • Women pay lower rates – Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women cause accidents at about the same rate, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and are penalized with high car insurance rates.
  • You might want pay the small claims yourself – If you file claims often, you can expect higher rates. Car insurance companies in New Jersey provide discounts to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.

There’s no such thing as the perfect policy

When choosing the best car insurance coverage, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Every insured’s situation is different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

  • When should I not file a claim?
  • Do no-fault laws apply in New Jersey?
  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
  • Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
  • Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
  • Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Shop online but buy locally

Certain consumers would prefer to sit down with an agent and that is just fine! The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain better rates but still work with a licensed agent.

After filling out this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents who will compete for your business. There is no need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy! Get lower rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

Choosing an insurer should depend on more than just a cheap price. Some important questions to ask are:

  • Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
  • Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
  • If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
  • If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
  • If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
  • What insurance companies do they work with?
  • Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
  • Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in New Jersey?

West New York car insurance agents come in two flavors

When researching a reliable agent, there are a couple of types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in West New York are categorized either independent or captive.

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents are contracted to one company and some examples include American Family, State Farm and Allstate. These agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. They are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies. When shopping rates, it’s recommended you get quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Below is a list of independent insurance agencies in West New York willing to provide price quotes.

Arias Insurance – 4912 Bergenline Ave – West New York, NJ 07093 – (201) 583-9400
Arevalo Agency – 520 57th St # 1 – West New York, NJ 07093 – (201) 863-1919

For a complete listing of car insurance agents in West New York, click here to link.

Upon receiving good answers to any questions you have as well as a affordable price, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.

More tips and info about car insurance is available at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, download brochures, get help finding coverage, and learn about specific coverages.

Summing up your car insurance search

Affordable car insurance can be found both online and also from your neighborhood West New York agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We’ve covered a lot of techniques to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies. They may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm or Progressive.