10 Proven Ways to Pay Lower Car Insurance Rates in Rio Rancho, New Mexico

No one in their right mind likes paying for car insurance, particularly when the price is too high. Because there are so many insurance companies to choose from, it can be challenging to find the most affordable insurance company.

Don’t pay full price with these discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts to reduce the price significantly. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for in order for you to get them. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

Early Signing – A few companies offer discounts for signing up before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
Sign Online – A few companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
More Vehicles More Savings – Insuring multiple cars or trucks on the same car insurance policy qualifies for this discount.
Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Senior Discount – Older drivers can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Accident Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts as compared to frequent claim filers.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn’t work that way. Any amount of discount will cut the cost of coverage.

To choose companies with discount car insurance rates in Rio Rancho, click this link.

Rio Rancho Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

Traffic violations increase rates – Whether or not you get tickets has a huge affect on how much you pay. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Just one citation can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers with dangerous tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
Pleasure use saves money – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage get more affordable rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your car insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven.
Lower rates with optional equipment – Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping car theft.
Where you live – Being located in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when buying car insurance. Urban drivers have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate.
What type of vehicle do you drive? – The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in your rates. The cheapest insurance rates are usually for small economy passenger vehicles, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation – Jobs such as real estate brokers, executives and stock brokers tend to pay the highest rates because of high stress and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, professions such as scientists, students and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
Liability coverage is cheap – Liability insurance is the coverage that protects you when a jury decides you are liable for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Clean credit earns discounts – Having a bad credit rating is a important factor in determining your rates. People with good credit tend to be more responsible than drivers with lower credit scores. So if your credit can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score.

Car insurance is unique, just like you

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether your personal situation could use an agent’s help.

Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
When would I need additional glass coverage?
Does my vehicle need full coverage?
Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

Compare online but buy from a local Rio Rancho agent

Certain consumers just want to get advice from a local agent. Insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates but also keep your business local. And supporting local insurance agencies is definitely important in Rio Rancho.

After completing this simple form, your coverage information is immediately sent to companies in Rio Rancho who will compete for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. It doesn’t get any easier!

Captive agents vs. Independent agents

When searching for an insurance agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Insurance agencies in Rio Rancho are categorized either independent or captive. Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning how they are different because it can influence your selection of an agent.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px;" src="https://www.findnewcarinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-84.jpg" alt="New Mexico car insurance quote”/>

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.

When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Listed below are independent insurance agents in Rio Rancho willing to provide price quotes.

Insurance Network Inc-Thurgood – 4200 Meadowlark Ln SE # 1b – Rio Rancho, NM 87124 – (505) 891-9800
Louis E Malherbe Agency – 333 Rio Rancho Dr NE # 100 – Rio Rancho, NM 87124 – (505) 896-0180
Jeannie Paynter Agency – 1453 Rio Rancho Dr SE # B – Rio Rancho, NM 87124 – (505) 896-0397
Chris Espinosa Agency – 1708 Southern Blvd SE # A – Rio Rancho, NM 87124 – (505) 896-5566
Tol A Graves Insurance Inc – 100 Frontage Rd NE # A2 – Rio Rancho, NM 87124 – (505) 891-9111

Agency Captives

These agents write business for a single company and examples are Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.

Below are Rio Rancho captive insurance agencies that can give you comparison quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 7820 Enchanted Hills Dr NE # F – Rio Rancho, NM 87144 – (505) 771-8872
Allstate Insurance Co – 1594 Sara Rd SE # K – Rio Rancho, NM 87124 – (505) 892-3100
Farmers Insurance Group – 57 Castle Rock Rd SE – Rio Rancho, NM 87124 – (505) 892-1225

For a complete listing of captive agencies in Rio Rancho, visit this site.

Choosing a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

What insurance company do they write the most business with?
Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
Are they full-time agents?
Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
Can glass repairs be made at your home?
Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?

Upon getting answers to your satisfaction to your questions and an acceptable price quote, chances are good that you have found an insurance agency that can service your policy.

Do drivers who switch really save?

Consumers constantly see and hear ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you move your coverage to them.

How can each company make the same claim?

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has a high credit rating. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest rates and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Drivers who fall outside these standards must pay more money and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That’s the way companies can truthfully make those claims.

This illustrates why it’s extremely important to get a wide range of price quotes. It’s just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

For more reading

Additional car insurance information is available on the website for the New Mexico Insurance Division located here. New Mexico drivers can find out industry alerts, discover disciplinary actions, learn about specific coverages, and file complaints about a company.

Better coverage you can count on

Cheaper car insurance can be sourced online as well as from independent agents in Rio Rancho, so compare prices from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some car insurance companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don’t reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed collision coverage only to regret that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

In this article, we covered a lot of tips how to shop for car insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with an unexpected company. They may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive or GEICO.