New Canaan, CT Car Insurance Buying Tips You Aren’t Supposed to Know

Shopping for affordable New Canaan car insurance on the internet can be problematic for beginners to buying insurance on the web. Because there are so many choices, how can New Canaan drivers possibly compare them all to find the best pricing?

It’s a good habit to compare rates once or twice a year due to the fact that insurance rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. If you had the best deal a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So just ignore everything you know about car insurance because I’m going to teach you the things you must know in order to lower your annual insurance bill.

Comparison of Car Insurance in New Canaan, CT

Getting better car insurance pricing is not rocket science. Drivers just need to spend a few minutes to compare rate quotes online with multiple companies. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

1. Probably the best way consumers can analyze rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This easy form keeps you from doing separate quote forms for each company you want a rate for. One form submission gets you price quotes from several companies. This is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time.
2. A different way to compare rate quotes requires you to visit each individual company website to request a price quote. For instance, we’ll pretend you want comparison quotes from Progressive, GEICO and Travelers. To get each rate you have to visit each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in New Canaan, click here.

However you get your quotes, ensure you’re using identical coverages on every quote. If you have different liability limits it will be very difficult to determine the best price in New Canaan.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be specifically requested prior to getting the savings. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
• Organization Discounts – Affiliation with certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on your policy.
• Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
• Homeowners Discount – Owning a home in New Canaan can help you save on car insurance because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
• Distant Student – Children who are attending college and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
• One Accident Forgiven – A few companies will forgive one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free prior to the accident.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think it’s possible to get free car insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

For a list of insurance companies with discount car insurance rates in New Canaan, follow this link.

There’s no such thing as the perfect policy

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Each situation is unique.

For example, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation could use an agent’s help.

• Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
• Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Should I buy more coverage than the required Connecticut minimum liability coverage?
• Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

How insurance companies determine rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better car insurance rates.

• Liability coverage is cheap – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage when you are found to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
• Men fork out a little more – Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don’t assume that men are worse drivers. Men and women are in accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving.
• Always keep insurance in force – Driving your car without having proper coverage is against the law and you will pay a penalty because you let your insurance expire. Not only will rates go up, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance will get you a license revocation or jail time.
• High credit ratings translate to low rates – Your credit rating is a important factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with lower ratings. If your credit history can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating.
• Consolidate policies to earn discounts – Many companies will award you with lower prices to policyholders who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still find better rates by splitting coverages up.
• Rate your vehicle for proper use – The more you drive each year the higher your rate. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos that are left in the garage qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Verify your car insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage.

Final considerations

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

We just presented quite a bit of information on how to save on car insurance. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from some of the smallest insurance companies.

Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, questionable increases in premium, high rates after DUI convictions and even delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding the right car insurance provider is not as difficult as it may seem.

Additional information can be read on the Connecticut Insurance Department website through this link. Connecticut drivers can learn about specific coverages, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Also read more on III.org’s auto insurance page and this link where you can get more info about New Canaan coverage.