Expert Tips to Lower Guilford, CT Car Insurance

Searching for low-cost Guilford car insurance on the internet can seem to be somewhat difficult for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. Because there are so many online companies, how can you effectively compare every company to locate the cheapest available price?

It is always a good idea to do rate comparisons occasionally since rates are variable and change quite frequently. Even if you think you had the best rates two years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re about to find out one of the best ways to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

Don’t overlook these discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there could be available discounts to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will automatically apply at quote time, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before they will apply.

Homeowners Savings – Simply owning a home can help you save on car insurance because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
E-sign – Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up online.
Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Memberships – Participating in a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on your policy.
Multi-policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
Driver’s Ed – Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.
One Accident Forgiven – Some insurance companies permit an accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
Life Insurance Discount – Some companies give better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
Federal Employees – Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce your premiums.

To see a list of providers who offer car insurance discounts in Connecticut, click here.

Finding Car Insurance Deals in Guilford, CT

There are several ways of comparing price quotes from different in Guilford, CTinsurance companies. By far the easiest way to compare insurance prices consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

One of the best ways to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This method eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for. Filling out one form will get you rate comparisons from many national carriers. It’s the fastest way to compare.

A different way to get comparison quotes requires a trip to the website of each company and fill out their own quote form. For example, we’ll pretend you want comparison quotes from Farmers, Safeco and GMAC. To find out each rate you need to go to every website and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to insurance companies in Guilford, click here.

The most time-consuming way to get comparison rates is driving to local Guilford insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the professional guidance that only a license agent can provide. It is possible to compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and we’ll cover that in a bit.

It’s up to you which method you use, but double check that you are using exactly the same coverages and limits with each company. If you enter different liability limits you will not be able to find the best deal in Guilford. Slightly different coverage limits can make a big difference in price. And when comparison shopping, having more price comparisons provides better odds of finding better pricing.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px;" src="https://www.findnewcarinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-113.jpg" alt="Connecticut auto insurance“/>

Get Cheaper Rates by Understanding Pricing

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that can help you get big savings.

Proper usage rating affects rates – The higher the mileage driven in a year the higher your rate. Most companies rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your car insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle.
Better crash test results mean better rates – Safer cars can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection means less money paid by your insurance company and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Better credit scores mean better rates – Your credit score is a huge factor in your rate calculation. Consumers who have good credit tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have lower credit ratings. If your credit score is low, you could pay less to insure your by improving your rating.
Bundling policies can get discounts – Some car insurance companies give discounts to insureds who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. If you currently are using one company, it’s still a good idea to shop around to ensure the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by buying car insurance from a different company.

Comparing rates from local agents

Some people just want to talk to a local agent and that is a personal choice. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find better rates but also keep your business local. And providing support for local agencies is especially important in Guilford.

After completing this short form, the quote information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Guilford who will battle for your coverage. There is no need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy! You’ll get the best rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Guilford auto insurance agents come in two flavors

When finding a reliable agent, there are a couple of different types of agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Guilford are either captive or independent.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency. When shopping rates, it’s recommended you include price quotes from multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection.Most can insure with smaller companies who may have lower rates.

The following is a short list of independent agents in Guilford who may be able to give you price quote information.

Maciorowski Insurance – 705 Boston Post Rd # 2 – Guilford, CT 06437 – (203) 738-0070
Andrus Agency – 21 Susanne Cir – Guilford, CT 06437 – (203) 458-8807
James Pepe Insurance – 749 Durham Rd – Guilford, CT 06437 – (203) 458-0834
Scholes Agency Inc – 1205 Boston Post Rd – Guilford, CT 06437 – (203) 453-0664
J F Scholes Agency – 1205 Boston Post Rd – Guilford, CT 06437 – (203) 453-0321

Captive Agents

These agents can only place business with one company such as Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers frequently choose to use a captive agent partially due to the brand legacy and solid financial strength.

Listed below is a short list of captive agencies in Guilford who can help you get comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 34 York St – Guilford, CT 06437 – (203) 453-9981

For a complete listing of captive agents in Guilford, visit this site.

Choosing an insurance agency needs to be determined by more than just the bottom line cost. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
Which company do they place the most coverage with?
Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?

Upon receiving positive responses as well as a affordable price, you’ve probably found an auto insurance agent that can adequately provide car insurance.

More comparisons equals lower rates

Drivers change insurance companies for many reasons like lack of trust in their agent, policy cancellation, high prices or extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.

We just showed you many ideas to get a better price on car insurance. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies.

Low-cost car insurance can be found on the web as well as from independent agents in Guilford, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies don’t offer online quoting and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

Additional information can be found on the Connecticut Insurance Department website found here. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, learn about specific coverages, and download brochures.