Insider Techniques for Cheaper Monroe, CT Auto Insurance

Price shopping your Monroe auto insurance can seem to be hard for people who are new to comparing rates online. Drivers have so many options that it can quickly become a real hassle to find the best price in Monroe.

It’s a good habit to do rate comparisons quite often since rates change regularly. If you had the best price two years ago there may be better deals available now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to how to quote online to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

Discounts are basically free money

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help offset the cost. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you complete an application, but a few must be manually applied before you will receive the discount.

• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
• E-sign – A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing online.
• Safe Driver Discount – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than their less cautious counterparts.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
• Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Monroe may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home demonstrates responsibility.
• Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for auto insurance.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will reduce your premiums.

To see a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates in Monroe, follow this link.

Educated Consumers Know How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

• Males pay more for insurance – Statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Both sexes cause accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage. They also get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
• Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – Liability insurance provides coverage if a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. Liability provides legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
• Better credit means lower rates – Credit score is a important factor in your rate calculation. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records as compared to drivers with poor credit. If your credit rating is low, you could be paying less to insure your by repairing your credit.
• Where you reside plays a part – Choosing to live in small towns and rural areas is a positive aspect when buying auto insurance. City drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents.
• Consolidate policies to earn discounts – Most companies give discounts to customers who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. If you currently are using one company, you still need to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still be able to find better rates by buying auto insurance from a different company.
• High performance equals high price – The performance level of the vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in determining your rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger models usually have the lowest rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
• You might want pay the small claims yourself – Auto insurance companies in Connecticut award lower rates to drivers who are claim-free. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for the large, substantial claims.
• Your age impacts your rates – More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel. Youthful drivers are known to be careless and easily distracted when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage

When it comes to choosing coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether or not you could use an agent’s help.

• Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Connecticut?
• How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
• Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
• What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Online quotes with a local Monroe insurance agent

A small number of people prefer to buy from a local agent and that is OK! One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is you may find the best rates and still choose a local agent. Buying from local agencies is important especially in Monroe.

To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to leave your computer due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. Now that’s easy! You can find better rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Different types of Monroe car insurance agents

When searching for an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures that you can select. Agencies in Monroe are categorized either independent or captive.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from.Most can insure with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

Shown below are independent agents in Monroe that may be able to provide price quote information.

• Holden Agency – 115 Main St – Monroe, CT 06468 – (203) 261-2521
• Helfer Insurance and Financial – 501 Main St – Monroe, CT 06468 – (203) 268-3900
• Nationwide Insurance – 518 Monroe Tpke – Monroe, CT 06468 – (203) 268-8070

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies write business for a single company such as Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They usually cannot give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies are trained well on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers frequently choose to use a captive agent partially due to the brand legacy and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Shown below are Monroe captive insurance agencies who can help you get price quotes.

• Allstate Insurance – 244 Monroe Tpke – Monroe, CT 06468 – (203) 452-0434

To view a complete directory of captive agents in Monroe, view this link.

Selecting a car insurance agent should depend on more than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
• Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
• Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
• Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?

Upon getting positive feedback to your questions and an affordable coverage quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that will insure your vehicles.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

GEICO, State Farm and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you change to their company. How does each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. A customer who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who fall outside this ideal profile must pay higher premiums which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.

This illustrates why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the Connecticut Insurance Department website through this link. Connecticut consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, learn about specific coverages, and find out industry alerts.

These articles may also be worth reading.

• Monroe Car Insurance Agents – Use the Web to Simplify your Search

And the best car insurance company is…

You just learned a lot of information how to compare auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a small local company.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, someone sacrificed collision coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

Low-cost auto insurance is possible both online in addition to many Monroe insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not provide online quoting and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.