The easiest way to save on car insurance rates is to compare quotes once a year from insurers who can sell car insurance in Buffalo. Rates can be compared by following these steps.
- Step 1: Try to understand what is in your policy and the steps you can take to keep rates in check. Many factors that cause rate increases such as traffic violations and a substandard credit history can be eliminated by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Step 2: Compare prices from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give prices from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can quote rates for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Step 3: Compare the new rates to your existing coverage to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a better price and make a switch, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
- Step 4: Provide notification to your current company of your intent to cancel your current policy. Submit the signed application along with the required initial payment to your new agent or company. Make sure you place your new certificate verifying proof of insurance in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
A good piece of advice is to use identical deductibles and limits on each quote and and to look at every insurance company. Doing this helps ensure a level playing field and a complete price analysis.
A recent insurance study revealed that almost 70% of insureds have been with the same company for at least the last four years, and nearly 40% of drivers have never compared rates from other carriers. Drivers in New York could save themselves 45% a year just by shopping around, but most just don’t grasp the actual amount they would save if they switched.
Finding the cheapest insurance coverage in Buffalo is quite easy if you know the best way to do it. If you have a policy now or just want cheaper rates, you can use these techniques to buy cheaper insurance and still have adequate protection. Smart buyers only have to learn the most time-saving way to compare price quotes online.
How to compare Buffalo Honda Pilot insurance quotes
The companies in the list below provide price quotes in Buffalo, NY. In order to find the best auto insurance in NY, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies to get the cheapest price.
Premium rates and analysis
The premium information below outlines estimates of insurance rates for Honda Pilot models. Having a better idea how premiums are determined is important for making smart choices when selecting a coverage provider.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pilot LX 2WD | $228 | $338 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $926 | $77 |
Pilot EX 2WD | $258 | $338 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $956 | $80 |
Pilot EX 4WD | $258 | $338 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $956 | $80 |
Pilot EX-L 2WD | $258 | $412 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,030 | $86 |
Pilot EX-L 4WD | $258 | $412 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,030 | $86 |
Pilot Touring 2WD | $258 | $412 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,030 | $86 |
Pilot Touring 4WD | $258 | $412 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,030 | $86 |
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Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Table data does not factor in your specific Buffalo location which can raise or lower premiums considerably.
The example below highlights how deductible selection and can affect Honda Pilot yearly insurance costs for different age groups. The rate quotes are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Honda Pilot insurance rates by gender in Buffalo
The chart below illustrates the comparison of Honda Pilot annual premium costs for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on no claims, a clean driving record, full coverage, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Difference between liability only and full coverage rates
The chart below shows the difference between Honda Pilot yearly insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in New York. The prices are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Deciding between full coverage and liability only
There is no clear-cut rule of when to exclude full coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is more than around 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Honda Pilot settlement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company would pay you is $7,000 after paying your policy deductible. If premiums are more than $700 a year for physical damage coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some situations where eliminating full coverage is not recommended. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Three reasons to not skimp on insurance
Despite the high cost, maintaining insurance is required for several reasons.
- The majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to buy specific limits 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 bought your Pilot with a loan, almost every bank will require that you have insurance to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank will be required to insure your Honda at a much higher premium rate and require you to fork over for the much more expensive policy.
- Insurance preserves both your Honda Pilot and your assets. Insurance will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, your policy will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of insuring your Pilot definitely exceed the cost, especially with large liability claims. As of last year, the average driver in New York is overpaying over $750 every year so it’s important to compare rates every year to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Decisions You Make Can Impact Your Insurance Costs
Multiple criteria are used when you quote your car insurance policy. A few of the factors are predictable like a motor vehicle report, but other criteria are not as apparent like your vehicle usage or how safe your car is. One of the most helpful ways to save on insurance is to to have a grasp of some of the things that come into play when calculating insurance rates. If you know what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make good choices that could result in cheaper rates.
The following are some of the most rate-impacting factors companies use to determine rates.
Annual miles is a factor – The higher the mileage driven in a year the higher your rate. A lot of insurance companies calculate rates partially by how you use the vehicle. Vehicles not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your insurance policy is showing the proper vehicle usage. Improper usage on your Pilot may be wasting your money.
Frequent insurance claims increase prices – If you are a frequent claim filer, you should expect increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Car insurance companies in New York give cheaper rates to insureds who only file infrequent claims. Auto insurance is designed for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
Remove unneeded incidental coverages – There are quite a few additional extra coverages that may not really be needed if you aren’t diligent. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, high-cost glass coverage, and term life insurance may be wasting your money. These coverages may sound good when talking to your agent, but if you’ve never needed them in the past remove them from your policy.
Raise comp and collision deductibles and save – Insurance for physical damage to your car, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers your vehicle from damage. A few examples of covered claims could be a dented fender, hail damage, or theft. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the better rate you will receive.
Honda Pilot claim data – Insurance companies use past loss statistics for each vehicle when they file their rates in each state. Models that have higher losses will have a higher premium rate. The data below shows the insurance loss data used by companies for Honda Pilot vehicles.
For each type of coverage, the loss probability for all vehicles averaged together is represented as 100. Numbers shown that are under 100 indicate better than average losses, while numbers shown that are more than 100 indicate frequent claims or an increased chance of larger losses than average.
Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Honda Pilot 4dr 2WD | 70 | 96 | 69 | 82 | 82 | 86 |
Honda Pilot 4dr 4WD | 79 | 105 | 81 | 88 | 74 | 82 |
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
When should I discuss my situation with an agent?
When quoting and choosing insurance from an agent or online, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique.
Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your situation may require specific advice.
- Does my Honda Pilot qualify for pleasure use?
- Is my state a no-fault state?
- When should I have rental car coverage?
- Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
- Can my teen drive my company car?
- Do I need replacement cost coverage?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.
Find cheaper insurance prices by comparing often
As you quote Buffalo auto insurance, it’s very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits and discovered at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.
Throughout this article, we presented a lot of ways to shop for Honda Pilot insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding low cost Buffalo auto insurance quotes. You may even find the biggest savings come from a smaller regional carrier.
Consumers switch companies for a number of reasons such as denial of a claim, lack of trust in their agent, unfair underwriting practices and even delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is not as hard as you think.
Other information
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Buffalo Car Insurance for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Buffalo Car Insurance Rates for a Ford Fusion? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Teenagers in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Toyota RAV4 in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- How Much is Buffalo Auto Insurance for a Hyundai Elantra? (FAQ)
- Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)
- Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- Airbag FAQ (iihs.org)