It’s easy to assume that car insurance companies don’t want you quoting rates from other companies. Insureds who shop around annually are inclined to buy a new policy because there is a high probability of finding better rates. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that drivers who make a habit of shopping around saved an average of $3,400 over four years compared to people who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding the best price on insurance is your ultimate target, understanding the best way to shop and compare insurance can make it easier for you to save money.
The recommended way to find cheaper quotes for GMC Sonoma insurance in Newark is to compare quotes once a year from insurers who provide auto insurance in New Jersey. Price quotes can be compared by following these guidelines.
- Take a few minutes and learn about car insurance and the measures you can take to prevent high rates. Many rating factors that cause rate increases such as traffic violations, accidents, and a lousy credit rating can be improved by making lifestyle changes or driving safer. Continue reading for tips to help keep prices low and get bigger discounts.
- Compare prices from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can only provide price estimates from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote prices for a wide range of companies. View companies
- Compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage to determine if you can save on Sonoma insurance in Newark. If you can save some money, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
A good piece of advice is to compare identical coverages on every quote and and to get rates from all possible companies. Doing this provides a fair price comparison and the best price selection.
Lower Your Newark Insurance Rates
Multiple criteria are part of the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some factors are common sense such as your driving history, but some are not as apparent such as whether you are married or how safe your car is. An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. If you have a feel for what determines premiums, this helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with lower premium levels.
A car insurance policy lapse is a bad thing – Going without insurance is a sure-fire way to increase your rates. And not only will insurance be more expensive, the inability to provide proof of insurance could result in fines and jail time. Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with the New Jersey motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
Stay claim-free and save – Companies in New Jersey generally give most affordable rates to drivers who do not file claims often. If you file a lot of claims you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.
Is your car built for speed? – The make and model of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a significant difference in your auto insurance rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger cars normally have pretty low rates, but your final cost has many other factors.
Your vocation is a factor – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupational choices like doctors, air traffic controllers, and accountants generally pay higher average rates attributed to high stress and lots of time spent away from family. On the flip side, professions such as professors, engineers and performers pay lower than average rates.
Save money with discounts
Car insurance companies don’t list the entire discount list very clearly, so the following list contains both the well known as well as some of the hidden credits that may apply to you.
- No Claims – Newark drivers who stay claim-free have much lower rates as compared to drivers with a long claim history.
- Save over 55 – Drivers over the age of 55 may receive a discount up to 10%.
- Waiver for an Accident – This isn’t a discount exactly, but a handful of insurance companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums if you have no claims before the accident.
- Theft Prevention System – Anti-theft and alarm system equipped vehicles are less likely to be stolen so companies will give you a small discount.
- ABS Brakes – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with ABS and/or traction control prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Newark Homeowners Discount – Just being a homeowner can earn you a little savings since owning and maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts could see savings of 20 to 30 percent.
- Multiple Cars – Purchasing coverage when you have multiple vehicles on a single policy can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
- Paper-free Discount – Some of the larger companies may give you up to $50 for completing your application on the web.
It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way.
Some companies that may include these money-saving discounts include:
Check with all companies you are considering which discounts can lower your rates. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply to policies in your area.
Auto insurance companies ranked
Picking the best auto insurance company can be challenging considering how many companies there are to choose from in New Jersey. The ranking information in the next section can help you pick which companies to look at purchasing coverage from.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury Insurance | 87 | 96 | 100 | 87% | A+ | 93.4 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 96 | 91 | 93% | A+ | 92.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 94 | 99 | 90% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Travelers | 84 | 93 | 100 | 87% | A++ | 92.3 |
| State Farm | 84 | 93 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 91 |
| Farmers Insurance | 87 | 92 | 90 | 85% | A | 90.6 |
| Safeco Insurance | 85 | 91 | 87 | 86% | A | 88.4 |
| USAA | 71 | 93 | 98 | 87% | A++ | 88 |
| GEICO | 73 | 93 | 95 | 85% | A++ | 87.1 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 85 | 91 | 89% | A | 86.9 |
| Liberty Mutual | 72 | 91 | 97 | 83% | A | 86.4 |
| AAA Insurance | 85 | 85 | 88 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
| Nationwide | 71 | 90 | 93 | 83% | A+ | 84.9 |
| Allstate | 69 | 92 | 92 | 83% | A+ | 84.4 |
| American Family | 77 | 96 | 80 | 85% | A | 83.8 |
| Esurance | 70 | 80 | 89 | 77% | A+ | 79.2 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
A conclusion for your car insurance search
A few companies do not provide the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies only sell coverage through local independent agencies. Budget-conscious GMC Sonoma insurance can be sourced from both online companies in addition to many Newark insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
When shopping online for car insurance, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where an insured dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your objective should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.
More detailed car insurance information is available in these articles:
- Anti-Lock Brake FAQ (iihs.org)
- Who Has Cheap Newark Auto Insurance for Unemployed Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Low Income Drivers in Newark? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Safe Drivers in Newark? (FAQ)
- Choosing a Car for Your Teen (State Farm)
- Collision Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
- How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Higher speed limits cause more fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)