Shockingly, most New York insurance customers kept buying from the same company for at least the last four years, and practically 40% of insurance customers have never compared rates with other companies. American drivers could cut their rates by as much as 46.5% a year, but most tend to underestimate the rate savings if they switch to a new company.
If you want to save money, the best way to get low-cost auto insurance rates is to start doing a yearly price comparison from companies in Buffalo.
- First, read and learn about what is in your policy and the modifications you can make to keep rates in check. Many things that result in higher prices like traffic violations and a negative credit rating can be controlled by being financially responsible and driving safely.
- Second, get rate quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can provide prices for a wide range of insurance providers. View prices
- Third, compare the new quotes to your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
- Fourth, notify your company or agent of your intention to cancel your current coverage and submit the application along with any required down payment for your new coverage. Be sure to keep the new proof of insurance certificate in your vehicle.
The key aspect of shopping around is that you use identical limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to look at as many companies as you can. Doing this enables a level playing field and the best price selection.
Our goal in writing this article familiarize you with how car insurance companies work and also pocket some savings If you currently have auto insurance, you will most likely be able to save money using the concepts covered in this article. You just have to know the proper methods to shop online.
Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper
It’s important that you understand some of the elements that help calculate your premiums. When consumers understand what impacts premium levels, this helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices. Lots of things are part of the equation when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious like your driving record, although some other factors are more obscure such as your credit history or how financially stable you are.
The list below includes some of the factors used by your company to calculate your prices.
- Liability – The liability section of your policy kicks in when a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides for a legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
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Insurance costs and vehicle performance – The performance of the vehicle you are insuring makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. Lower performance four cylinder passenger models usually have the lowest premiums, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
The following data assumes a single female driver age 20, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The chart compares Lexus HS 250h policy rates compared to other models that have a range of performance risks.
- Use but don’t abuse your insurance – Insurance companies in New York generally give the lowest premiums to insureds that do not abuse their auto insurance. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can expect increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Your car insurance is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
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Good drivers pay less – Being a careful driver has a big impact on rates. Attentive drivers pay less for auto insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Just one speeding ticket can increase the cost of insurance forty percent or more. Drivers who get serious citations like DUI or reckless driving may find they need to submit a SR-22 form with their state in order to keep their license.
The diagram below illustrates how violations and at-fault fender-benders raise Lexus HS 250h car insurance rates for different ages of insureds. Data assumes a married female driver, full coverage, $250 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
- Vocation can influence prices – Careers such as military personnel, executives, and stock brokers usually pay higher rates than average attributed to intense work situations and long work hours. Other jobs like scientists, engineers and retirees have lower than average premiums.
Which Lexus HS 250h insurance is cheapest in Buffalo, New York?
The providers in the list below provide free rate quotes in Buffalo, NY. To locate cheap car insurance in Buffalo, we suggest you visit two to three different companies in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Rates and data analysis
The information below showcases different policy rates for Lexus HS 250h models. Having a good understanding how policy premiums are calculated can help customers make smart policy decisions.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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HS 250H 4-Dr Sedan | $136 | $288 | $236 | $14 | $70 | $744 | $62 |
HS 250H Premium 4-Dr Sedan | $136 | $288 | $236 | $14 | $70 | $744 | $62 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Price information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can revise coverage rates noticeably.
How high should deductibles be?
One of the more difficult decisions when buying car insurance is which deductibles should you choose. The comparison tables below may help to conceptualize the differences in premium rates when you select higher and lower physical damage deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 physical damage deductible and the second set of prices uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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HS 250H 4-Dr Sedan | $258 | $468 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $1,059 | $88 |
HS 250H Premium 4-Dr Sedan | $258 | $468 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $1,059 | $88 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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HS 250H 4-Dr Sedan | $158 | $294 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $760 | $63 |
HS 250H Premium 4-Dr Sedan | $158 | $294 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $760 | $63 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Cost estimates assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, and safe-driver. Price information does not factor in zip code location which can increase or decrease insurance rates greatly.
Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $25 more each month or $300 for a full year than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to have more than 30 months between claim filings, you would save more money by selecting a higher deductible.
How to calculate if higher deductibles make sense
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $88 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $63 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $25 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $25 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 30 months |
Lexus HS 250h annual premiums for males versus females
The example below shows the difference between Lexus HS 250h auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The information is based on a clean driving record, no claims, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Should you buy full coverage?
The example below compares Lexus HS 250h insurance prices with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The information is based on a clean driving record, no claims, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are factored in.
When to stop buying full coverage
There is no set guideline for dropping full coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is about 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Lexus HS 250h book value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, you would only receive $7,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $700 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
There are a few cases where dropping full coverage is not a good plan. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not opt for liability only.
Buying the right HS 250h insurance in New York is an important decision
Even though it can be expensive, insuring your vehicle may be mandatory for several reasons.
- Almost all states have minimum liability requirements which means you are required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance in order to drive the car. In New York these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a loan on your vehicle, more than likely the lender will require you to have physical damage coverage to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender will be forced to insure your Lexus at an extremely high rate and force you to pay for the expensive policy.
- Car insurance preserves both your car and your assets. It will also provide coverage for medical transport and hospital expenses for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, your policy will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of buying car insurance outweigh the cost, especially for larger claims. On average, a vehicle owner in Buffalo is overpaying over $800 each year so smart consumers compare quotes every year to ensure rates are inline.
Discount Buffalo auto insurance rates
Car insurance can cost a lot, but there are discounts available to help bring down the price. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of quoting, but a few must be specifically requested before they will apply.
- Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying in monthly installments you could save up to 5%.
- Buffalo Homeowners Discount – Just being a homeowner can get you a discount because of the fact that having a home demonstrates responsibility.
- Save over 55 – Seniors could receive lower premium rates.
- Accident-Free Discounts – Claim-free drivers get the best auto insurance rates in comparison to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you combine your homeowners and auto policies and place coverage with the same company you could earn a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Sign Early and Save – Some auto insurance companies reward drivers for renewing your policy prior to your current HS 250h insurance policy expiring. It can save you around 10%.
It’s important to understand that most credits do not apply to the whole policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
The example below visualizes the comparison of Lexus HS 250h car insurance costs with and without some available policy discounts. The premiums are based on a male driver, no violations or claims, New York state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, claim-free, marriage, multi-car, homeowner, and multi-policy discounts applied.
To see a list of auto insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in New York, click this link.
Local Buffalo insurance agents and insurance
Some people just want to buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. Most agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. A nice benefit of comparing rates online is that drivers can save money and get better rates and still buy from a local agent. Buying from and supporting small agencies is important particularly in Buffalo.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, your insurance data is submitted to companies in Buffalo who will give competitive quotes for your insurance coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered directly to you. If you want to get a price quote from a specific company, you just need to visit that company’s website and fill out their quote form.
When searching for an insurance agent, it helps to know the two different types of agents and how they can quote your rates. Insurance agents may be either independent agents or exclusive agents. Either one can write policy coverage, but it’s important to know the subtle differences since it can affect your selection of an agent.
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents can quote rates with many companies and that allows them to write policies through many companies and potentially find a lower price. If they quote lower rates, the agent simply finds a different carrier which makes it simple for you.
When comparing insurance prices, you absolutely need to compare prices from several independent insurance agents in order to have the best price comparison.
The following is a small list of independent insurance agencies in Buffalo who may be able to give you free rate quotes.
Paul Wolf Agency Inc
2686 Elmwood Ave – Buffalo, NY 14217 – (716) 835-9653 – View Map
Gallego Agency
572 Amherst St – Buffalo, NY 14207 – (716) 854-2800 – View Map
Lawley
361 Delaware Ave – Buffalo, NY 14202 – (716) 849-8618 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
Agents that elect to be exclusive normally can only provide a single company’s rates such as American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. They usually cannot provide other company’s prices so they have to upsell other benefits. They receive a lot of sales training on sales techniques and that allows them to sell at a higher price point.
Listed below is a short list of exclusive agencies in Buffalo willing to provide price quote information.
Farmers Insurance – Toni Du Bois
2460 Main St – Buffalo, NY 14214 – (716) 931-5200 – View Map
Dan Schmidt – State Farm Insurance Agent
615 Elmwood Ave – Buffalo, NY 14222 – (716) 783-9460 – View Map
Joe Czaja – State Farm Insurance Agent
1021 Union Rd – Buffalo, NY 14224 – (716) 674-3654 – View Map
Deciding on a car insurance agent should include more criteria than just a low price. The answers to these questions are important, too.
- Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Are they in the agency full-time?
- Does the agent help file claims?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- Can you get a list of referrals?
After receiving satisfactory answers to all your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that meets the criteria to properly insure your vehicles.
What insurance coverages do I need?
Always remember that when buying a policy, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Your financial needs are unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply.
Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
- Who sells insurance for high-risk drivers?
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- Am I covered if I hit a deer?
- Will my insurance pay for OEM parts?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in New York?
- Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
- Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
- What does roadside assistance cover?
- How can I force my company to pay a claim?
- When should I buy a commercial auto policy?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.
Do the work, save more money
As you shop your coverage around, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret they didn’t have enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
Cheaper Lexus HS 250h insurance in Buffalo is possible on the web as well as from insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies don’t offer rates over the internet and these smaller providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.
Other resources
- Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for a Nissan Sentra in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for College Graduates in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Ford Edge in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Buffalo Car Insurance Rates for a Ford Fusion? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Electric Cars in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Single Moms in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Buffalo Car Insurance Rates for Low Income Drivers? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
- Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)