Cheap car insurance may seem hard to find in New York, but there are certain things you can do to lower your costs and premiums. Also, with auto rates tending to go down across the country now is a good time to see how much you could save. Here’s how.
One of the most important things you can do to find the cheapest auto insurance is to get several comparison quotes. This is because insurance rates can vary so much from one company to the next. Auto insurance companies often set rates based on their target underwriting market so you may be a better fit for one company as opposed to another and receive a lower rate. The Insurance Information Institute recommends at least three quotes for comparison.
The New York State Insurance Department’s Web site does feature some example premiums, but you really need to get custom quotes to see how much you can save. You can call insurance agents, or visit the Web sites of companies that do business in the state and request quotes. To get the most accurate quotes, provide the same information to each company, such as how much coverage you want, the amount of your deductibles, how many miles you drive, etc.
You might find it more convenient to go to an online insurance comparison Web site. These sites don’t represent a single company and will provide you several quotes. Typically, you only need to enter your information once and then you can get apples-to-apples comparisons.
Other ways you can lower your car insurance costs include:
Increasing your deductible. This can lower your premium quite a bit.
Taking advantage of discounts. Most companies offer several types of discounts that, if you are eligible, could save you five, 10 even 20 percent on your premium.
Maintaining a good credit score. Credit is often used by insurance companies to assess risk. If you have bad credit you may be considered a higher risk and have to pay more.
Drive less. If you drive a lot of miles in a year, you may be considered a higher risk and need to pay more.
