8 Must-Know Methods When Shopping for York Maine Car Insurance

Are you sick and tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in Maine. Companies like GEICO and Progressive persitently shower you with ads and it is challenging if not impossible to separate fact from fiction and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It is always a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates yearly due to the fact that insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you think you had the lowest price a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because we’re going to demonstrate one of the easiest ways to find great coverage at a great price.

If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to cut your premiums and possibly find even better coverage. Finding affordable coverage in York is not rocket science. Maine consumers only need an understanding of the proper methods to get comparison rates online.

Components of your insurance rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

Is your vehicle built for speed? – The performance of the car you own makes a huge difference in your rates. The cheapest insurance rates are for lower performance four cylinder passenger cars, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
Clean credit earns discounts – Your credit rating is a big factor in your rate calculation. Drivers with high credit ratings tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower credit ratings. Therefore, if your credit history can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score.
Pleasure use saves money – The more miles you rack up on your car each year the higher your rate. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your car insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are a lot of add-on coverages you can purchase when buying car insurance. Coverages like personal injury protection, better glass coverage and term life insurance are some examples. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.

Cut your car insurance rates with discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there could be available discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you complete an application, but some may not be applied and must be inquired about before you get the savings. If you don’t get every credit you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.

Anti-lock Brake System – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
E-sign – A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application on their website.
Low Mileage – Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
Senior Citizens – Older drivers can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
Safety Course Discount – Completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce the cost of coverage.

To choose insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts in York, follow this link.

Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent

A small number of people would prefer to talk to a local agent and that is a personal choice. Good agents can help determine the best coverages and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain lower rates and still choose a local agent. And supporting small agencies is important particularly in York.

After completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is instantly submitted to participating agents in York who will compete to get your business. You don’t have to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. How cool is that?!

Types of insurance agencies in York

If you’re trying to find local York agents, there are two types of insurance agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies in York can either be captive or independent (non-captive). While both can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the differences because it can influence your agent selection.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part.

When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices. car insurance image

The following are York independent agents that may be able to provide comparison quotes.

Nationwide Insurance – 118 York St – York, ME 03909 – (207) 363-8902
Bragdon Insurance Inc – 286 York St – York, ME 03909 – (207) 363-3200

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies work for only one company and some examples include American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. Captive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents.

Below is a list of captive insurance agencies in York that can give you price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 18 York St – York, ME 03909 – (207) 363-8604

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

Choosing an auto insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Here are some questions to ask:

If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
How long has their agency been open in York?
Does the agency support the community they serve?
Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?

Upon getting acceptable answers to all your questions as well as a affordable price, most likely you have located an insurance agency that is a good match to insure your vehicles.

Car insurance myths debunked

Maine drivers can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings by companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you switch to them.

How do they all say the same thing?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a driver they prefer might be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Drivers who do not match these standards will be charged higher prices and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. That’s the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

That is why it is so important to compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict which car insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions can help discover if you would benefit from professional advice.

Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
What can I do if my company denied a claim?
Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Maine?
Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Does my vehicle need full coverage?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.

Learn more about Maine car insurance

More information is located on the website for the Maine Bureau of Insurance found here. Maine drivers can read industry bulletins, find disaster information, download brochures, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Compare but don’t skimp

While you’re price shopping online, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price.

We’ve covered a lot of techniques to shop for car insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive and GEICO.