Discover Proven Ways to Save on Swanton Vermont Auto Insurance

I can’t think of anyone who cherishes buying auto insurance, especially when the cost is way too high.

Drivers have multiple insurance companies to pick from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, too many choices makes it more difficult to get the best deal.

Consumers should take time to do rate comparisons occasionally because insurance rates change quite often. Even if you got the best price six months ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the fastest and easiest way to find great coverage at a great price.

This information will teach you how car insurance quotes work and some tips to save money. If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these methods. Although Vermont car owners do need to learn the way insurance companies price insurance differently and take advantage of how the system works.

Don’t miss these discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you may find discounts to help offset the cost. Most are applied when you get a quote, but some may not be applied and must be asked for before they will apply.

Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts when compared to accident-prone drivers.
New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
Good Student – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
Life Insurance Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out life insurance from them.
Organization Discounts – Participating in a qualifying organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.
Discount for Swiching Early – A few companies offer discounts for switching policies before your current policy expires. The savings is around 10%.
Student Driver Training – Require your teen driver to enroll in driver’s education if offered at their school.
Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive reduced rates.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way. But all discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Vermont, click here to view.

Won’t my local insurance agent miss me?

Certain consumers would rather sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you may find better rates but also keep your business local. And supporting small agencies is definitely important in Swanton.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), your information is emailed to local insurance agents in Swanton who will compete for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to drive around since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy! You can find the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to. auto insurance image

The different types of insurance agents

If you’re trying to find an insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Insurance agencies in Swanton are either independent or captive.

Independent Agents

Independent agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you contact at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Below are independent insurance agents in Swanton who can help you get price quotes.

Jeff Raleigh Insurance – 9 Farrar St – Swanton, VT 05488 – (802) 868-9153
Chevalier Insurance – 4 Church St – Swanton, VT 05488 – (802) 868-4006

Agency Captives

This type of agents have only one company to place business with like State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. These agents are trained well on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.

Choosing an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
Can glass repairs be made at your home?
Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
Are they full-time agents?
If you have an accident, will your rates go up?

Once you have acceptable answers to your questions and a low price estimate, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that will insure your vehicles.

Don’t be fooled by advertising claims

Auto insurance companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings if you switch to them. How does each company make the same claim? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured might be profiled as over the age of 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential insureds who do not match the “perfect” profile will be quoted higher prices and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s why companies can advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why you need to compare many company’s rates. It is impossible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Much more information about auto insurance in Vermont can be found on the website for the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation found here. Consumers can read consumer alerts, discover disciplinary actions, view a list of available companies, and find out industry alerts.

What is YOUR best insurance company?

We just covered many tips how you can lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

Cheaper auto insurance can be found on the web as well as from independent agents in Swanton, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.