Rock Solid Methods for Getting Low-Cost Colchester, VT Car Insurance

Are you overwhelmed by the dozens of car insurance companies in Colchester? Many other drivers are as well. People have so many options that it can easily become a real challenge to find lower rates.

Quick Colchester Car Insurance Quotes

There are several ways to compare rate quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The simplest method to find the lowest rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The single most time-saving way to get the best comparison quotes is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This easy form keeps you from doing multiple quote forms for each company. Taking the time to complete one form gets you coverage quotes from car insurance companies with the best prices. It’s definitely the quickest method.

Another way to obtain and compare quotes online requires you to visit the website of each company and request a quote. For example, we’ll assume you want to compare rates from Auto-Owners, Esurance and Farmers. To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to insurance companies in Colchester, click here.

The least efficient way to get comparison rates is to spend your day driving to and from local Colchester insurance agencies. Shopping for car insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you have a need for the professional advice only provided by licensed Colchester agents. You can, however, find lower rates online but buy from a local insurance agent and you’ll learn how to do that later.

Whichever way you use, compare identical coverages for every company. If you have different liability limits it’s not possible to truly determine the lowest rate in Colchester. Just a small difference in coverage limits could mean much higher rates. And when quoting car insurance, remember that quoting more will improve the odds of getting the best offered rates.

Smart Consumers Save More

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that help determine the price you pay for car insurance. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to big savings.

Do men or women drive better? – Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don’t assume that men are WORSE drivers than women. They both have accidents in similar numbers, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
Lower rates come with age – Young drivers in Vermont are statistically proven to be less responsible behind the wheel so car insurance rates are higher. Having to add a youthful driver onto a policy can really hurt. Older drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Traffic citations inflate rates – A bad driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Even one speeding ticket may increase your cost twenty percent or more. Drivers with clean records get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. If you have flagrant violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find they need to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
Safer cars cost less to insure – Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.
High performance equals high price – The type of vehicle you drive makes a substantial difference in determining your rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
Never let your coverage lapse – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a guaranteed way to trigger a rate increase. Not only will you pay more, failure to provide proof of insurance will get you a steep fine or even jail time.You may then be required to file a SR-22 with the Vermont motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
Big city or small town – Being located in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when it comes to car insurance. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents. Drivers who live in large Vermont cities have to deal with much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.

Cut your premium with discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts to cut the cost considerably. Most are applied at the time you complete a quote, but less common discounts must be asked about prior to getting the savings. car insurance image

Good Student – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
Accident Waiver – Certain companies permit an accident before raising your premiums as long as you don’t have any claims for a certain period of time.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Keeping the miles down can earn a substantially lower rate.
Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
Own a Home – Simply owning a home can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
Military Rewards – Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with certain companies.
Safety Course Discount – Completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Payment Method – If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
Distant Student – Kids in college who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount will bring down your premiums.

For a list of insurance companies with discount car insurance rates in Vermont, click here to view.

Are insurance agents obsolete?

Certain consumers would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you may find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. And supporting local businesses is important particularly in Colchester.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, the coverage information gets sent to participating agents in Colchester who will battle to get your business. You never need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. How cool is that?! You’ll get the best rates and a licensed agent to work with.

If you want to view a list of agents in Colchester to contact, click here to link.

Picking a company requires more thought than just the premium amount. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

Are they full-time agents?
Do they assist clients in filing claims?
If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?

Upon receiving reasonable responses in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s possible that you found an insurance company that can properly service your car insurance policy.

A tidy conclusion

We just covered a lot of techniques to shop for car insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the lowest premiums are with a small mutual company.

Cheaper car insurance can be bought both online and with local Colchester insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

More information can be read on the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation website. Click here for link. Consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, learn about insurance regulations, and learn about specific coverages.

Also read more on NAIC.org’s Understanding your Policy and this page where you can also get Colchester car insurance quotes.