Things You Must Know Before Buying Dover Delaware Car Insurance Online

I can’t think of a single person who looks forward to buying car insurance, especially when the cost is way too high.

Popular companies such as Allstate, Liberty Mutual and State Farm promote their brand names with advertising and it can be hard to ignore the flashy ads and do the work needed to find the best deal.

Be sure to get all your discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but companies offer discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for prior to receiving the credit.

Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
Driver Safety – Taking part in a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident without raising rates if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any amount of discount will reduce your premiums.

Buy Cheaper Car Insurance with These Tips

It’s important that you understand the factors that help determine the price you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower car insurance prices.

The following are a few of the “ingredients” companies use to determine premiums.

Please use or commuting – Driving more miles every year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles that are left in the garage receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your car insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Traffic citations inflate rates – Your driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Even one ticket can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers who get flagrant violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
High performance equals high price – The type of vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a substantial difference in determining your rates. The lowest rates tend to be for economy passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation – Occupations such as lawyers, architects and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average due to job stress and long work days. On the flip side, occupations such as farmers, athletes and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
Men fork out a little more – The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. They both cause accidents at a similar rate, but the males cause more damage. They also receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore have the most expensive car insurance rates.

There’s no such thing as the perfect policy

When choosing the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether you may require specific advice.

Do I qualify for additional discounts?
What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
When should I not file a claim?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Shop online but buy locally

A small number of people would rather sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you can get the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local agencies is especially important in Dover.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px" src="https://www.findnewcarinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-85.jpg" alt="Dover DE car insurance prices” />

Once you complete this form (opens in new window), the quote information is immediately sent to agents in your area who will return price quotes to get your business. You never need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! You’ll get the best rates and a licensed agent to work with.

Two different types of insurance agencies

When finding a reliable agent, there are two different agency structures that you can select. Agencies in Dover can either be captive or independent.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rates, it’s recommended you include several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Shown below is a list of independent insurance agents in Dover that are able to give competitive price quotes.

Nationwide Insurance – 905a N Dupont Hwy – Dover, DE 19901 – (302) 653-5678
Glenn Deaton Agency – 905 N Dupont Hwy # A – Dover, DE 19901 – (302) 734-3700
Commerce Insurance Svc Inc – 30 S American Ave – Dover, DE 19901 – (302) 629-5585
Richard Parsons Agency – 155 N Dupont Hwy – Dover, DE 19901 – (302) 674-2810

Agency Captives

Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company like Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which can be an advantage.

The following are Dover captive insurance agents that are able to give rate quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 1005 W State College Rd # 103 – Dover, DE 19904 – (302) 734-2100
State Farm Insurance – 450 S Dupont Hwy # B – Dover, DE 19901 – (302) 674-2992

To view a full list of captive agents in Dover, view this link.

Choosing an insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the price. Agents should be asked these questions:

Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
Do they make recommendations based only on price?
Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
Will your rates increase after a single accident?
Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?

Once you have received positive responses to these questions and locked in a price quote, most likely you have located an insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.

Some additional reading

Additional car insurance information is located on the website for the Delaware Department of Insurance found here. Delaware drivers can find a variety of consumer forms, get help finding coverage, and file complaints about a company.

One last thing

Cheaper car insurance is attainable both online and with local Dover insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, don’t be tempted to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

You just learned quite a bit of information on how to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. They can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like Progressive or GEICO.