Things You Must Know Before Shopping for Newport Auto Insurance Online

Have you had enough of scraping the payment together to insure your vehicles every month? You’re in the same situation as the majority of other car owners in Rhode Island.

Insurance companies such as GEICO, Farmers Insurance and State Farm all promote huge savings with ad campaigns and consumers find it hard to ignore the propoganda and do the work needed to find the best deal.

Smart consumers take time to shop coverage around at least once a year because rates change quite often. Even if you got the lowest price last year you may be paying too much now. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance online but I’m going to show you some guaranteed methods to find cheap auto insurance.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using this strategy. Finding affordable coverage in Newport is easy if you know what you’re doing. But Rhode Island car owners should learn how the larger insurance companies sell online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Do you qualify for a discount?

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but a few must be inquired about prior to getting the savings.

Student Driver Training – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
Drive Less and Save – Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Early Switch Discount – A few companies offer discounts for switching policies before your current expiration date. It’s a savings of about 10%.
Federal Government Employee – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
Defensive Driver – Taking part in a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accidents.
Good Student – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
Paperless Signup – A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application on their website.
Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
Organization Discounts – Being a member of a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance.

As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But all discounts will bring down your premiums.

When might I need help?

When it comes to buying coverage, there is no one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether you could use an agent’s help.

Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Rhode Island?
Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Rhode Island?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Rhode Island?
Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

But don’t I need an insurance agent?

A small number of people would rather buy from a local agent and that is just fine! One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is you may find better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from small agencies is important particularly in Newport.

Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents who will compete to get your business. You won’t need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. How cool is that?! You can find the lowest rates and work with a local agent. save money in Rhode Island

Newport auto insurance agents come in two flavors

When looking for a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures from which to choose. Agencies in Newport are classified as either independent or captive.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, we recommend you contact several independent insurance agents for the best price selection.

Listed below is a short list of independent agents in Newport that are able to give competitive price quotes.

D F Dwyer Agency – 38 Bellevue Ave # B – Newport, RI 02840 – (401) 846-9629
Renaud Insurance – 28 Pelham St – Newport, RI 02840 – (401) 849-7400
Renaud Insurance – 7 Beacon Ct – Newport, RI 02840 – (401) 849-7400

Agency Captives

Captive agencies are contracted to one company like State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. They are well schooled on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.

Deciding on an insurance agent should depend on more than just a low price. These questions are important to ask:

Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?

Upon getting positive feedback to all your questions and locked in a price quote, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that will properly service your auto insurance policy.

The fine print in auto insurance ads

Auto insurance providers like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. They all make an identical promise that you can save if you switch your policy. How do they all make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer they prefer to insure. For example, a desirable insured might be over the age of 50, has no prior claims, and drives newer vehicles. A driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don’t measure up to this ideal profile will be charged a more expensive rate which usually ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That’s why companies can advertise the savings.

That is why it’s extremely important to get as many quotes as possible. It’s impossible to know the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More information is located on the website for the Rhode Island Division of Insurance Regulation through this link. Rhode Island consumers can read industry bulletins, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and get help finding coverage.

The following information may also be useful.

Quote more, save more

Low-cost auto insurance can be purchased online and with local Newport insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. A few companies do not offer online quoting and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.