Getting a Car Insurance Quote in Connecticut

Car insurance is a large expenditure in the budgets of most individuals and families, so, as with any major purchase, you should comparison-shop. Car insurance shopping requires obtaining comparative quotations from different companies.

By using the FREE comparison tool above, you can quickly see all of your options side-by-side. Simply enter your ZIP code to get started now!

Unfortunately, one cannot shop for car insurance in the same way as a new refrigerator. The following steps are advised in order to acquire a reasonable quote:

Know the Required Limits of Liability in Connecticut

As in most other states, Connecticut has enacted laws to require liability insurance to be obtained and in force for drivers of cars in the state. Statutory requirements are:

• $20,000 coverage per person for bodily injury liability – your legal liability for injury to others in the event of an accident
• $40,000 coverage per accident for bodily injury liability
• $10,000 coverage for property damage to others property, per accident
• $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Insurance companies are required to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of cancellation of auto insurance. Fines for failure to have automobile insurance begin at $50 and go up from there.

Be Aware of the Type of Coverage You Intend to Purchase

The limits suggested by the state of Connecticut are not enough to protect your interests so consider carrying the following limits of liability:

• $100,000 coverage per person for bodily injury liability
• $300,000 coverage per accident for bodily injury liability
• $50,000 coverage per accident for property damage to others
• $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage
• $5,000 medical payment coverage to pay for the initial injuries to individuals in your vehicle

Physical Damage Coverage for Your Own Vehicle

Liability coverage does not give you protection for your own property, the vehicle driven. To protect yourself, you should carry physical damage coverage. There are two types of physical damage coverage, which are provided together.

• Comprehensive coverage, which pays for theft, vandalism, fire, falling items, glass damage, weather, flood, and animal damage such as striking a deer or bird.
• Collision coverage pays for just that, collision damage to your own vehicle.

Both comprehensive and collision have deductibles. You can choose the deductibles, from $100 per accident to $1000 per accident depending upon your needs. Check with your lender to determine the amount of deductible they will accept since part of the reason for carrying comprehensive and collision is to protect their collateral.

Optional insurance such as coverage to pay off your lease or lien in the event of total loss is available at an additional price.

Ways of Saving Money on Car Insurance

There are a number of ways to keep your car insurance costs under control; some may be obvious, but others new to you.

• Avoid traffic tickets and accidents
• Drive reasonable amounts of distances – for example, fifteen or less miles one way to work or school
• Place both automobile insurance, homeowners/renters insurance with the same company to obtain a discount of up to 9%.
• Make sure your teenager gets grades of B or better to obtain a good student discount- this could reduce premiums by 16%
• Being married – married individuals pay up to 14% less on car insurance premiums
• Approved drivers training courses for new drivers as well as refresher courses for those over 50
• Maintain a good credit rating – automobile insurance companies examine these
• Check with the particular insurance company to see if you are eligible for a discount for reason of affiliation. Fraternal organizations, some employers, some occupations, alumni of certain colleges, and military personnel are examples of these.

Examine the Insurance Company You Choose

Knowledge of where to do research about your insurance company, its financial status, and the complaints filed against it in your state. Here are some of the places to look:

• Consumer affairs unit – Ranks automobile insurers and files complaints
• A. M. Best – an insurance rating firm that provides financial information about insurance companies
• National Association of Insurance Commissioner (NAIC) – This organization provides information with regard to insurance companies and links to state insurance departments for the convenience of consumers.
• The state of Connecticut provides a listing of complaints against producers of insurance and insurance companies on their website.

Information You Will Need for Obtaining Quotations

Prepare yourself with this information before asking for a quotation for auto insurance:

• Full names, dates of birth, and drivers license numbers for all drivers
• Driving history for drivers – tickets and accidents as well as the dates of each
• Make, model, and vehicle identification number for all owned vehicles
• Use of each vehicle: Pleasure only, number of miles commuted to school or work, and how often the commute is made, or business
• Type of coverage to be carried for each vehicle: Liability only, deductibles, and optional coverage such as roadside assistance and lease/lien payoff insurance.

Caution: Be sure to be honest with the insurance company because failure to disclose drivers, exact locations of garaging, and driving details can cause difficulty should you have a claim.

Obtaining Quotations for Car Insurance

It is a good idea to obtain at least three quotations with matching coverage to be certain that you are comparing the same thing. After you have received these three quotes, you can add desired coverage.

As a test, the following quotations were obtained from three insurance companies that do business in Connecticut.

Basic information:

• Driver – 32 year old female, unmarried, with graduate degree
• Rents a house – Graduate assistant
• Vehicle – 2008 Dodge Caravan – 6 cylinder
• Commutes 12 miles one way to work and school
• Location – New Haven, Connecticut

Coverage:

• $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident bodily injury liability
• $50,000 per accident property damage liability
• $100,000/$300,000 uninsured/underinsured motorists insurance
• $5,000 medical payments
• $500 deductible comprehensive
• $500 deductible collision

Quotations arrived at using this information:

Insurance Company #1 – $ 98.79 monthly - $592.74 every six months

Insurance Company #2 - $176.65 monthly - $559.90 every six months

Insurance Company #3 - $331.33 monthly - $2,649.64 every six months

As you can see, insurance premiums vary a great deal from insurance company to insurance company, so comparison-shopping is prudent. Examine your quotations carefully to make certain that the coverage you desire is part of the quotation.

Be sure to use the FREE tool below to start comparing auto insurance quotes easily!