Cheapest Auto Insurance Exclusively for Lewiston, ME Residents

Nobody I know enjoys paying for auto insurance, in particular when their premiums are too high. There are many insurers to choose from, and even though it’s nice to have a choice, so many choices can make it hard to get the best deal.

It is always a good idea to price shop coverage periodically because insurance rates tend to go up over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates last year you will most likely find a better rate today. Don’t believe everything you read about auto insurance online, so I’m going to show you a bunch of ideas how to stop overpaying for insurance.

This article will familiarize you with the most effective way to quote insurance. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. Maine drivers just need to know the best way to compare company rates online.

Free Lewiston Auto Insurance Quotes

Most major insurance companies like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive allow you to get prices for coverage online. The process is fairly simple as you just enter the coverages you want as requested by the quote form. Once entered, their system gets your credit score and driving record and gives you a price quote determined by many factors. Being able to quote online simplifies rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit a lot of sites and type in the same information is monotonous and tiresome. Unfortunately, it is important to perform this step in order to find lower prices.

The smarter way to find cheaper rates is to use a quote form to obtain quotes from several companies at one time. It’s a real time-saver, eliminates form submissions, and makes online price comparison a lot less work. As soon as you send your information, your coverage is rated and you are able to buy any or none of the resulting price quotes.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you can click and sign and purchase coverage. This process can be completed in less than 10 minutes and could lower your rates considerably.

If you want to find out how much you can save on auto insurance, click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you duplicate the coverages identical to your current policy. Doing this assures you are getting rate comparison quotes based on similar coverages.

Don’t overlook these discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there are discounts available that many people don’t even know exist. A few discounts will automatically apply when you complete an application, but some must be manually applied before you will receive the discount. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
No Accidents – Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts compared to drivers who are more careless.
Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving fewer miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
No Charge for an Accident – Some insurance companies permit an accident without raising rates as long as you don’t have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner may trigger a auto insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
New Vehicle Savings – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
Resident Student – Any of your kids who are attending college without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
Early Signing – Select companies give a discount for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But any discount will cut your premiums.

Is my situation unique?

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions can aid in determining if you will benefit from professional help.

Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Maine?
Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Should I buy only the required Maine minimum liability coverage?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

You have some control over your rates

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces that factor into prices.

Protect yourself with liability coverage – Liability coverage will protect you in the event that a jury decides you are liable for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not skimp.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates – Driving a car with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder car theft.
The type of vehicle makes a difference – The type of car you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in determining your rates. Small economy passenger cars receive the most favorable rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Never allow your policy to lapse – Letting your insurance expire will be a quick way to trigger a rate increase. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance can result in a license revocation or jail time.You may then be required to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Maine motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers in Maine can’t get away from ads that promise big savings from the likes of State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. All the ads say the same thing that you can save after switching your coverage to them.

But how can every company claim to save you money?

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A driver who matches those parameters receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who are not a match for the requirements will be quoted a more expensive rate which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why drivers must quote coverage with many companies. You cannot predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

And the best car insurance company is…

When trying to cut insurance costs, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

You just read some good ideas how to save on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive and GEICO.

The cheapest auto insurance is available on the web as well as from independent agents in Lewiston, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

Additional information is available on the website for the Maine Bureau of Insurance. Click here for link. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and report car insurance fraud.