Auto Insurance in Westfield, NJ – 7 Tips to Lower Rates

Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out.

Insurance companies such as State Farm and GEICO increase brand awareness with advertising and it is difficult to ignore the propoganda and take the time to shop coverage around.

If you have car insurance now, you should be able to save some money using these tips. Buying car insurance in Westfield is easy if you know what you’re doing. Nevertheless, New Jersey vehicle owners do need to understand how insurance companies market insurance on the web and use this information to your advantage.

How to Get Westfield Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

All the larger auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm provide prices for coverage online. Getting online quotes is fairly straightforward as you just type in your personal and coverage information into the quote form. Behind the scenes, their system will order your driving record and credit report and quotes a price based on many factors. Quoting online makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the process of having to visit a lot of sites and fill out multiple forms is not the best way to spend an afternoon. Unfortunately, it is important to have as many quotes as possible in order to get a better rate.

There is a better way!

The smarter way to lower your auto insurance bill uses one simple form to obtain quotes from many companies. It saves time, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes rate comparisons a little more enjoyable. Once the form is submitted, it gets priced with multiple companies and you can pick any of the returned quotes.

If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase coverage. This process can be completed in less than 10 minutes and you will know how your current rates stack up.

To compare pricing, click here to open in new window and enter your information. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you enter the limits and deductibles exactly as shown on your declarations page. Using the same limits helps guarantee you will get a rate comparison for similar coverage.

Save money by taking advantage of these seven discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to reduce the price significantly. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time you complete a quote, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically before you will receive the discount.

• Multiple Vehicles – Buying coverage for multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• Multiple Policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you may save up to 20% off your total premium.
• Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
• Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
• Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts when compared to frequent claim filers.
• Employee of Federal Government – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.
• Distant Student – Kids in college who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky. But any discount will help reduce the cost of coverage.

For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in New Jersey, click this link.

Local Westfield agents and auto insurance

Certain consumers would rather visit with an insurance agent and that is OK! One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for small agencies is definitely important in Westfield.

Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your information is emailed to participating agents in Westfield who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. You can find better rates and work with a local agent.

If you want to view licensed agents in Westfield, visit this site.

Choosing a company needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

• Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
• Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
• If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
• How often do they review policy coverages?
• Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?

Once you have received positive responses to these questions and an acceptable price quote, chances are good that you have found an insurance company that can adequately provide auto insurance. Keep in mind policyholders can cancel coverage at any point so don’t assume you’re contractually obligated to any particular company with no way out.

What coverages do I need?

When buying the best auto insurance coverage, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Every insured’s situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
• Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
• Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
• Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
• Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?

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. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Save $492 a year. For real?

Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. All the companies make the same claim of big savings if you switch your coverage to them. But how can every company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 40, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. Any new insured who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don’t measure up to these standards will be charged more money and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. That’s why insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.

That is why you should get as many comparisons as possible. You cannot predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Auto insurance coverage information

Understanding the coverages of a auto insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 15/30/5), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Usually these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.

Collision coverage

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers things such as colliding with a tree, scraping a guard rail, hitting a parking meter, sustaining damage from a pot hole and backing into a parked car. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for bills for things like funeral costs, dental work and nursing services. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Comprehensive auto coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like a broken windshield, falling objects and theft. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Liability

This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 50/100/50 which means a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability insurance covers things such as structural damage, medical expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, repair costs for stationary objects and loss of income. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. New Jersey requires drivers to carry at least 15,000/30,000/5,000 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.

Final thoughts

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced online and also from your neighborhood Westfield agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

We covered many ideas to shop for auto insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from a small local company. They can often provide lower rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate and Progressive.

Find out more about auto insurance

Additional information can be found on the website for the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance located here. Consumers can read industry bulletins, learn about specific coverages, and learn about insurance regulations.