If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to find cheaper quotes for car insurance rates is to compare prices annually from different companies that sell auto insurance in Buffalo. Rates can be compared by completing these steps.
- First, it will benefit you to learn about how companies price auto insurance and the steps you can take to lower rates. Many rating criteria that cause high rates such as accidents, careless driving, and a not-so-good credit score can be amended by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. This article gives more ideas to prevent rate hikes and find overlooked discounts.
- Second, quote rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agencies can give you price quotes from many different companies. Find a Buffalo insurance agent
- Third, compare the new quotes to your current policy premium to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find a better price, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
A good tip to remember is to try to compare identical coverages on each price quote and and to look at as many different insurance providers as possible. This provides a fair rate comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
It’s safe to conclude that car insurance companies don’t want you shop around. Consumers who shop around for a cheaper policy are inclined to switch car insurance companies because there are good odds of finding better rates. A recent car insurance study discovered that drivers who routinely compared rates saved $865 a year compared to people who never shopped around for cheaper prices.
If finding the lowest rates on insurance in Buffalo is your objective, then knowing how to get free comparison quotes and analyze car insurance can save time and money.
To find the best insurance rates, there are several ways to compare rate quotes from all the different companies. The easiest way by far to find affordable Volkswagen Golf insurance rates consists of shopping online. When quoting insurance, remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes increases the chance that you will find a lower rate. Some insurance companies are not set up to provide online price quotes, so it’s important to compare prices on coverage from those companies, too.
The providers in the list below offer comparison quotes in Buffalo, NY. To find the cheapest car insurance in New York, we recommend you visit as many as you can in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Insurance policy discounts you can’t miss
Companies offering auto insurance don’t always publicize every discount available very clearly, so here is a list both the well known in addition to some of the lesser obvious discounts that you can inquire about if you buy Buffalo car insurance online.
- Onboard Data Collection – Insureds that choose to allow data collection to analyze driving patterns by using a telematics device such as Progressive’s Snapshot may get a rate reduction if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- College Student – Any of your kids who attend college more than 100 miles from Buffalo and do not have a car could get you a discount.
- Paper-free Discount – A few larger online companies will provide an incentive for buying a policy and signing up on the internet.
- Government Employees – Federal government employees could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
- Payment Discounts – By making one initial payment rather than spreading payments over time you can avoid the installment charge.
- Driver’s Education for Students – Have your child participate in a local driver’s education class if it’s offered in school.
- Policy Bundle Discount – When you combine your auto and home insurance with the same insurance company you will save at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
- Seat Belt Usage – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% on medical payment and PIP coverage.
One last thing about discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
The example below illustrates the comparison of Volkswagen Golf auto insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the premium. The costs are based on a male driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, New York state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-policy, multi-car, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver discounts applied.
A few popular companies and some of the discounts are shown below.
- Progressive may include discounts for multi-policy, homeowner, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, and online quote discount.
- GEICO includes discounts for military active duty, anti-lock brakes, membership and employees, seat belt use, and anti-theft.
- State Farm has discounts for safe vehicle, accident-free, anti-theft, student away at school, passive restraint, and good driver.
- Esurance offers premium reductions for claim free, anti-lock brakes, safety device, multi-policy, good student, DriveSense, and paid-in-full.
- The Hartford has savings for driver training, good student, defensive driver, anti-theft, vehicle fuel type, and bundle.
If you are trying to find affordable Volkswagen Golf insurance quotes, ask each company which discounts can lower your rates. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not be offered in every state. If you would like to see a list of insurance companies with discount insurance rates in Buffalo, follow this link.
Volkswagen Golf insurance coverage information
The data table shown below highlights different insurance coverage prices for Volkswagen Golf models. Being more informed about how auto insurance premiums are determined helps drivers make smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf 2.5 2-Dr Hatchback | $108 | $250 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $766 | $64 |
| Golf 2.5 4-Dr Hatchback | $122 | $250 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $780 | $65 |
| Golf 2.0T Turbo Diesel 2-Dr Hatchback | $122 | $288 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $818 | $68 |
| Golf 2.0T Turbo Diesel 4-Dr Hatchback | $122 | $250 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $780 | $65 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data variables include single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, and safe-driver. Premium costs do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can raise or lower premiums greatly.
Where to set your deductibles
The hardest decision when buying coverage is the level to set your comp and collision deductibles. The following tables show the rate difference between low and high deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second set of prices uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf 2.5 2-Dr Hatchback | $204 | $406 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $995 | $83 |
| Golf 2.5 4-Dr Hatchback | $230 | $406 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,021 | $85 |
| Golf 2.0T Turbo Diesel 2-Dr Hatchback | $230 | $468 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,083 | $90 |
| Golf 2.0T Turbo Diesel 4-Dr Hatchback | $230 | $406 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,021 | $85 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf 2.5 2-Dr Hatchback | $166 | $328 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $854 | $71 |
| Golf 2.5 4-Dr Hatchback | $188 | $328 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $876 | $73 |
| Golf 2.0T Turbo Diesel 2-Dr Hatchback | $188 | $378 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $926 | $77 |
| Golf 2.0T Turbo Diesel 4-Dr Hatchback | $188 | $328 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $876 | $73 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Table data does not factor in zip code location which can affect prices substantially.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $12 more each month or $144 for a full year than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $250 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have at least 21 months between claim filings, you would save money by going with a higher deductible.
Calculate deductible break even point
| Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $86 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $74 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $12 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $12 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 21 months |
One big caveat is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates means you will have to pay more of your own money at claim time. You must have some savings in the bank in the event you need to pay the higher deductible.
The illustration below shows how different deductible levels and can raise or lower Volkswagen Golf premium costs for different categories of driver ages. Data assumes a married male driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Volkswagen Golf insurance rates: Men versus women
The diagram below visualizes the comparison of Volkswagen Golf auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The data assumes no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Why Your Insurance Costs might be higher
Part of the car insurance buying process is learning some of the things that aid in calculating your premiums. When you know what positively or negatively determines premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that could result in big savings.
- Keep insurance claims to a minimum – If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance companies in New York provide better rates to drivers who are not frequent claim filers. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for claims that pose a financial burden.
- Save money by having multiple policies – Most larger companies afford better rates to insureds who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you qualify for this discount already, drivers will still want to check prices from other companies to ensure the best deal.
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Youthful vs. experienced drivers – Beginning drivers in New York have been known to get distracted easily behind the wheel therefore car insurance rates are much higher. If you’ve ever had to add a teen driver to your policy will cause a huge premium hike. Older, more experienced drivers are more cautious drivers, are lower risk to insure, and receive fewer citations.
The data below is based on a single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
- Big city or small town – Living in less populated areas of the country is a good thing when trying to find low car insurance rates. Less people translates into fewer accident claims in addition to fewer liability claims. People in densely populated areas regularly have congested traffic and much longer commute distances. More time on the road can result in more accidents.
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Avoid tickets and save – Being a careful driver has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers pay less for auto insurance as compared to careless drivers. Having just one chargeable violation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who have gotten severe citations such as DUI or willful reckless driving may face state-mandated requirements to prove financial responsibility with their state in order to keep their license.
The diagram below shows how speeding tickets and at-fault claims impact Volkswagen Golf auto insurance costs for different insured age categories. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
- Alarms and GPS tracking lowers car insurance rates – Selecting a car model with an alarm system can earn a premium discount. Advanced theft deterrents like OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms all aid in stopping car theft and help bring rates down.
- Vehicles with better crash test results mean better car insurance rates – Safer cars tend to have lower insurance rates. Vehicles engineered for safety protect occupants better and reduced instances of injuries means less claims paid and thus lower rates.
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Volkswagen Golf claim data – Insurance companies analyze historical claim data when they calculate premium costs for each model. Vehicles that statistically have higher losses will cost more to insure. The table below shows the collected loss data for Volkswagen Golf vehicles.
For each policy coverage, the statistical loss for all vehicles averaged together is equal to 100. Percentage values below 100 indicate better than average losses, while values that are above 100 point to more claims or an increased chance of larger losses than average.
Volkswagen Golf Insurance Claim Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Volkswagen Golf 109 97 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Car insurance agents near you
Some consumers still like to sit down and talk to an agent and doing so can bring peace of mind A nice benefit of comparing insurance online is the fact that you can find cheap insurance quotes and also buy local. Buying from and supporting neighborhood agents is especially important in Buffalo.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), the coverage information gets sent to participating agents in Buffalo who want to provide quotes for your insurance coverage. You never need to search for an agent because prices are sent directly to you. You can find better rates without the usual hassles of price shopping. If you have a need to get a rate quote from a specific insurance provider, you can always jump over to their website and submit a quote form there.
Listed below are Buffalo auto insurance companies willing to provide price quote information for Volkswagen Golf insurance in Buffalo.
- George Ihle III – State Farm Insurance Agent
7718 Buffalo Ave – Niagara Falls, NY 14304 – (716) 283-9100 – View Map - Merchants Insurance Co
85 Pearl St – Buffalo, NY 14202 – (716) 849-3287 – View Map - Burch Insurance Agency
4180 Bailey Ave – Buffalo, NY 14226 – (716) 830-3417 – View Map - Vanner Insurance Agency LLC
11 Pinchot Ct – Buffalo, NY 14228 – (716) 688-8888 – View Map
Picking the best provider shouldn’t rely on just a cheap quote. Get answers to these questions too.
- Where would your vehicle be repaired?
- What companies can they write with?
- How many years have they been established?
- Will the quote change when the policy is issued?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
When to get professional advice
Always keep in mind that when comparing coverage online or from an agent for your personal vehicles, there really isn’t a single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different and your insurance should be unique as well.
For example, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- What if a claim settlement is too low?
- Do I have ACV or replacement cost coverage?
- What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in New York?
- Should I have a commercial auto policy?
- Can I insure my car for more than it’s worth?
- How high should my medical payments coverage be?
- Is a blown tire covered by insurance?
- How much coverage applies to personal belongings?
- Is a driver training discount available?
- Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
How much can you save?
The cheapest Volkswagen Golf insurance in Buffalo can be purchased online and also from your neighborhood Buffalo agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these regional insurance providers prefer to sell through independent agents.
We’ve covered a lot of ways to find affordable Volkswagen Golf insurance in Buffalo. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your auto insurance rates. Consumers could even find that the best rates are with the smaller companies. Regional companies can often provide lower auto insurance rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
Additional detailed information can be found in these articles:
- How to Avoid Staged Accidents (State Farm)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Ford Edge in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Buffalo Auto Insurance for Teachers? (FAQ)
- Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Institute)
- Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)
- Vehicle Size and Weight FAQ (iihs.org)