Amazingly, most auto insurance buyers have purchased from the same company for a minimum of four years, and almost half have never taken the time to shop around. Many consumers in Buffalo could save an average of 45% each year, but most just don’t grasp the amount of money they would save if they bought a different policy.
It takes a little time, but the best way to get more affordable auto insurance rates is to regularly compare quotes from companies in Buffalo. You can shop around by following these guidelines.
- Step 1: Read about individual coverages and the changes you can make to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that cause rate increases such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and an imperfect credit score can be amended by making minor changes in your lifestyle. This article gives information to get cheaper coverage and find discounts that you may qualify for.
- Step 2: Request rate estimates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide prices from multiple companies. Start a quote
- Step 3: Compare the new quotes to your existing coverage to see if a cheaper rate is available in Buffalo. If you can save some money and make a switch, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
- Step 4: Give notification to your current company of your decision to cancel your existing policy and submit the application along with any required down payment to the new company. Once the application is submitted, put the proof of insurance paperwork somewhere easily accessible.
A key point to remember is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical deductibles and limits on each price quote and and to compare as many different companies as possible. Doing this helps ensure the most accurate price comparison and a complete price analysis.
Take policy discounts and save on Mitsubishi Lancer insurance in Buffalo
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be significant discounts to help offset the cost. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of quoting, but a few must be asked for before being credited. If you do not check that you are getting every discount available, you could be saving more on your auto insurance.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Insureds that choose to allow their insurance company to monitor their driving habits remotely such as State Farm’s In-Drive could possibly reduce rates as long as the data is positive.
- Paperwork-free – Some of the larger companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
- Government Employees – Active or former government employment may reduce rates when you quote Buffalo auto insurance with select insurance companies.
- Payment Discounts – By making one initial payment rather than spreading payments over time you can actually save on your bill.
- Multi-Vehicle Discounts – Having multiple cars or trucks on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Theft Deterrent Discount – Cars optioned with advanced anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen and will qualify for a discount on a Buffalo auto insurance quote.
A little disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Despite the appearance that all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky.
The diagram below shows the difference between Mitsubishi Lancer insurance prices with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The data assumes a male driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, 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 multi-car, safe-driver, marriage, claim-free, multi-policy, and homeowner discounts applied.
Larger auto insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts can be found below.
- 21st Century offers discounts including automatic seat belts, driver training, homeowners, good student, air bags, and student driver.
- State Farm has savings for driver’s education, Steer Clear safe driver discount, passive restraint, defensive driving training, and Drive Safe & Save.
- AAA offers discounts for good driver, AAA membership discount, education and occupation, multi-car, and good student.
- Liberty Mutual may have discounts that include new move discount, hybrid vehicle, teen driver discount, multi-policy, new graduate, and newly retired.
- Progressive may include discounts for multi-policy, online quote discount, good student, continuous coverage, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and online signing.
Check with all the companies how many discounts you can get. Some of the discounts discussed earlier might not be offered in every state.
The providers in the list below offer comparison quotes in New York. To find the best cheap auto insurance in Buffalo, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies to find the cheapest auto insurance rates.
Rate information and statistics
The coverage table shown next highlights estimates of insurance coverage prices for Mitsubishi Lancer models. Learning how insurance premiums are determined can help customers make smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lancer DE | $162 | $338 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $908 | $76 |
Lancer ES | $162 | $338 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $908 | $76 |
Lancer GTS | $180 | $388 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $976 | $81 |
Lancer Sportback GTS | $180 | $388 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $976 | $81 |
Lancer RALLIART | $198 | $440 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,046 | $87 |
Lancer Sportback Ralliart | $198 | $440 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,046 | $87 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Prices do not factor in specific location information which can change coverage prices noticeably.
Physical damage deductible comparison
One common question asked by Buffalo drivers is where to set your physical damage deductibles. The premium rates below illustrate the costs and benefits between low and high physical damage deductibles. The first data table uses a $250 physical damage deductible and the second set of prices uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lancer DE | $230 | $406 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,021 | $85 |
Lancer ES | $230 | $406 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,021 | $85 |
Lancer GTS | $258 | $468 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,111 | $93 |
Lancer Sportback GTS | $258 | $468 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,111 | $93 |
Lancer RALLIART | $284 | $528 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,197 | $100 |
Lancer Sportback Ralliart | $284 | $528 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,197 | $100 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lancer DE | $188 | $328 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $876 | $73 |
Lancer ES | $188 | $328 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $876 | $73 |
Lancer GTS | $210 | $378 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $948 | $79 |
Lancer Sportback GTS | $210 | $378 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $948 | $79 |
Lancer RALLIART | $230 | $426 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,016 | $85 |
Lancer Sportback Ralliart | $230 | $426 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,016 | $85 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can change coverage rates substantially.
Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $14 more each month or $168 annually across all Mitsubishi Lancer models than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $250 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have more than 18 months between claims, you would probably save some money by selecting a higher deductible.
The information below illustrates how your deductible choice and can raise or lower Mitsubishi Lancer insurance rates for each different age category. The data assumes a single male driver, comp and collision included, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Difference between liability only and full coverage rates
The illustration below compares Mitsubishi Lancer auto insurance costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. Data assumes no claims or driving violations, $100 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are factored in.
When to stop buying full coverage
There is no definitive rule for dropping physical damage insurance, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of coverage is 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Mitsubishi Lancer replacement cost is $3,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, you would only receive $2,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are paying more than $200 annually for full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some cases where dropping physical damage coverage is not advised. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to keep full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Compare prices but buy from a local Buffalo insurance agent
Certain consumers would rather get advice from a local agent and that is a smart decision Professional insurance agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help you file claims. The best thing about comparing rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get the best rates but also keep your business local.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, your information is emailed to companies in Buffalo who will give competitive quotes for your coverage. You won’t even need to search for an agent because quoted prices will be sent directly to you. If you have a need to compare prices for a specific company, you just need to visit that company’s website and fill out the quote form the provide.
Picking the best insurer is decision based upon more than just a low price. Here are some questions you might want to ask.
- How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
- Are they in the agency full-time?
- Which family members are covered?
- Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
- Will one accident increase rates?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- Are they paid to recommend certain coverages?
- Does their agency support local causes in Buffalo?
Two types of Buffalo car insurance agents
If you want to buy car insurance from a reliable agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures and how they function. Car insurance agents in Buffalo can be described as either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Either one can do a good job, but it’s important to know the difference in the companies they write for since it can affect buying decisions.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agents
Agents in the exclusive channel work for only one company and examples are AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to compare rates from other companies so always compare other rates. Exclusive insurance agents are well trained on the products they sell which can be an advantage.
The following is a short list of exclusive agents in Buffalo willing to provide price quotes.
George Ihle III – State Farm Insurance Agent
7718 Buffalo Ave – Niagara Falls, NY 14304 – (716) 283-9100 – View Map
Marc Scherrer – State Farm Insurance Agent
2165 Sheridan Dr – Buffalo, NY 14223 – (716) 875-0524 – View Map
Farmers Insurance – Toni Du Bois
2460 Main St – Buffalo, NY 14214 – (716) 931-5200 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Agents that elect to be independent are not locked into one company and that allows them to write policies with any number of different companies and find the cheapest rate. If they find a cheaper price, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to do anything. If you need cheaper car insurance rates, you will want to get quotes from at least one independent agent for the best price selection.
The following is a list of independent insurance agents in Buffalo willing to provide comparison quotes.
State Insurance Fund
225 Oak St – Buffalo, NY 14203 – (716) 851-2000 – View Map
Sardinia Associates LLC
801 Main St – Buffalo, NY 14203 – (716) 853-3820 – View Map
The Decker Agency, Inc.
37 Elmwood Ave – Buffalo, NY 14201 – (716) 883-1455 – View Map
Be persistent to save money
When shopping online for insurance, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage and learned later that it was a big error on their part. The goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest cost, not the least amount of coverage.
There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get quotes online and these regional carriers only sell coverage through independent agencies. Low-cost Mitsubishi Lancer insurance in Buffalo is attainable from both online companies and from local insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
Additional information is located below:
- Determining Your Vehicle’s Value and Repair Cost (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Buffalo Auto Insurance for Good Students? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Veterans in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- How Much is Car Insurance for 16 Year Olds in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- How Much is Buffalo Car Insurance for a GMC Sierra? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Lyft Drivers in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- Self-driving cars won’t replace humans (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Safety Features for Your New Car (State Farm)