Learn How to Shop For Merrimack New Hampshire Car Insurance Like a Pro

Buying the most affordable Merrimack car insurance on the internet can seem to be rather challenging for consumers not familiar with price shopping online. Since there are so many insurers available, how can Merrimack drivers have a chance to compare every company to locate the best available rates?

It is always a good idea to compare prices before your policy renews since rates change frequently. Just because you found the lowest price two years ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you’re about to find out one of the best ways to find better coverage at a better price.

Finding affordable coverage in Merrimack is not rocket science. Basically, everyone who has to buy car insurance most likely will be able to find better rates. But New Hampshire car owners must learn how big insurance companies determine prices because it can help you find the best coverage.

How to Get Car Insurance in Merrimack, NH

There are several ways of comparing price quotes and find the best price. The easiest way to compare insurance prices is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The most efficient way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This easy form prevents you from having to do boring form submissions for every car insurance company. Just one form will get you price quotes from several companies. It’s the fastest way to compare.
A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online requires a visit to the website of each company and fill out their own quote form. For instance, we’ll pretend you want to compare Allstate, 21st Century and GEICO. You would have to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular.
For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Merrimack, click here.
The least efficient method to compare rates is to spend your day driving to insurance agents’ offices. The ability to buy insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you have a need for the personal advice only provided by licensed Merrimack agents. It is possible to comparison shop online but buy from a local insurance agent and we’ll touch on that later.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just ensure you’re using apples-to-apples coverage limits on every quote you get. If the quotes have different deductibles you can’t possibly find the best deal in Merrimack. Having just a slight variation in coverages could mean much higher rates. And when quoting car insurance, remember that having more price comparisons provides better odds of finding the best rates.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Companies don’t always list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of some of the more common and the harder-to-find car insurance savings.

Own a Home – Owning a house in Merrimack can save you money because owning a home shows financial diligence.
Good Student – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.
Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay much less compared to frequent claim filers.
Anti-lock Brake System – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
Drivers Education – Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way.

Informed Drivers can Cut Their Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get big savings.

Do you know your deductibles? – Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be a windshield shattered by a rock, damage caused by hail, or theft. Your deductibles are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket before your car insurance pays a claim. The more you have to pay, the less your car insurance will be.
Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – The liability section of your policy is the coverage that protects you if a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Discounts for multiple policies – Some insurance companies will give a discount to insureds who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by buying car insurance from a different company.
Clean credit earns discounts – Credit rating is a big factor in your rate calculation. People with excellent credit tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with lower ratings. Therefore, if your credit can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your rating.
Being married can save on car insurance – Having a wife or husband can actually save you money on your policy. It usually means you are more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that being married results in fewer claims.
Men are more aggressive – Statistics demonstrate women tend to be less risk to insure than men. Now that doesn’t mean men are worse drivers. Both sexes have accidents in similar numbers, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
Proper usage rating affects rates – The more you drive each year the higher your rate. Most companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates than those used for commuting. Double check that your car insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.
Don’t buy coverages you don’t need – There are many extra bells and whistles that you can buy when buying car insurance. Things like vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and term life insurance may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment at first, but if they’re wasting money remove them from your policy.

What about using a local agent?

Some consumers just want to visit with an insurance agent and that is OK! One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the lowest rates but also keep your business local.

Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), the quote information gets sent to participating agents in Merrimack who will compete for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. It doesn’t get any easier! It’s the lowest rates AND a local agent.

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

What insurance company do they write the most business with?
How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
Is assistance available after office hours?
Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?

Insurance agent types

When searching for a good Merrimack insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies from which to choose. Merrimack agents are categorized either independent or captive.

Captive Agents

This type of agents work for only one company like State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. Captives cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents receive extensive training in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some people will only buy insurance from these agents mainly due to high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.

Shown below is a list of captive agents in Merrimack that can give you price quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 577 Daniel Webster Hwy – Merrimack, NH 03054 – (603) 424-9428
Allstate Insurance – 604 Daniel Webster Hwy # 112 – Merrimack, NH 03054 – (603) 429-8800

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To move your coverage to a new company, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection. Most have the option of insuring with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

Shown below are independent insurance agents in Merrimack that can give you price quotes.

Paramount Insurance – 579 Daniel Webster Hwy – Merrimack, NH 03054 – (603) 424-2339
Prudential Insurance Co – 42 Lamson Dr – Merrimack, NH 03054 – (603) 880-7301

To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in Merrimack, visit this site.

Once you have received acceptable answers to any questions you have in addition to an acceptable price estimate, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that can properly insure your vehicles.

What is the best insurance coverage?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.

Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
Am I getting all the discounts available?
Do I need higher deductibles?
Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

More tips and info about car insurance is located at the New Hampshire Insurance Department website. New Hampshire drivers can read state legal mandates and laws, discover disciplinary actions, find out industry alerts, and download brochures.

More comparisons equals lower rates

Low-cost car insurance can be sourced online in addition to many Merrimack insurance agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced full coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate.

We just covered some good ideas how to compare car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with a small local company.