How much is car insurance in New Haven, CT?

New Haven, Connecticut had a population of 129,779 as of the 2010 Census. English Puritans as an alternative to the Massachusetts Colony founded the colony in 1638. New Haven’s deep harbor encouraged fishing, sailing, and commerce.

After the American Revolution, manufacturing became more important. Eli Whitney, of cotton gin fame, established factories and the city became a manufacturing hub for guns, clocks, and brass parts.

Now education and medicine are the mainstays of the economy.

Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, Albertus Magnus College, and Gateway Community College provide positions for a large portion of the population in New Haven through the colleges themselves as well as the services required by the students, faculties, and support staff.

Car Insurance Financial Responsibility Laws in Connecticut

Car insurance is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Insurance, which helps enforce the laws enacted by the state with regard to minimum liability limits. In Connecticut, the minimum amounts required by law are:

• $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident bodily injury liability
• $10,000 per accident property damage liability
• $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident – Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for bodily injury liability

The state of Connecticut, however, urges drivers to carry higher limits. Inflation of costs for hospitals, doctors, rehabilitation, and other costs involved in accidents easily leads to circumstances where the state requirements are inadequate.

To protect your interests, you need to provide yourself higher limits of liability.

These higher limits of liability will not increase your insurance premiums a great deal.

Suggested Limits of Liability and Explanation of Automobile Insurance Terms

Alternative limits suggested:

• Bodily Injury Liability – covers bodily injury to other people caused by your negligence or the negligence of someone driving your car– Suggested limits: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
• Property Damage Liability – covers damage to the property of others caused by your negligence – $50,000 per accident
• Medical Payments – provides for medical payments possible lost wages, and funeral expenses for you or a relative living with you – $10,000 per accident
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage – covers bodily injury to you, relatives living with you, and passengers if they are injured in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist – $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident limits for bodily injury are recommended.
• Damage to your own vehicle in the form of Comprehensive coverage – the perils covered by comprehensive are: theft, vandalism impact with animals or birds, explosion, flood, falling objects, windstorm, and glass breakage – this coverage usually has a deductible applying to each incident.
• Damage to your own vehicle in the form of Collision coverage – covers collision with another vehicle or object. There is usually a deductible applying to this coverage.

Information You’ll Need to Request a Quote

Have the following information ready to provide online or to the insurance agent you choose:

• Names, dates of birth, and license numbers for all drivers
• Year, make and model for all vehicles that you own
• Driving records for all drivers

The insurance company will request data such as marital status, where your vehicle is garaged, education, and employment.

Make sure that you give the same data to each company from which you request a quote so your quotes are comparable.

Some individuals think that not listing one or more of their vehicles will reduce their insurance premium and not endanger them. This is definitely not so; even if a vehicle is parked and disabled, there’s always the possibility that it can be put back into service.

If an accident happens while you or a member of your household drives that vehicle, no insurance coverage will apply.

At the very least, this leaves you vulnerable to a citation for not having insurance; at most, you can be liable for injuries to others and their property. This liability would be paid from current earnings or savings.

Shopping for Car Insurance

Comparison-shopping can affect your budget due to various factors.

Car insurance for one vehicle in New Haven can cost from $1,200 to $1,800 annually.

If you are new to purchasing car insurance because you have not had a car or have been in school and previously been insured on the policy of another person, here are the steps to shopping for car insurance and saving on your premiums:

• Examine insurance companies first. Ask friends, acquaintances, and relatives about their experience with insurance companies. Many consumer publications and sites, including the Better Business Bureau, give information about insurance companies. Collect a list of good insurance companies to research and ask for quotes.
• Check the financial ratings for the companies by using a rating service such as A.M. Best or Forbes. Financial stability is important in paying insurance claims.
• Arrange the companies by desirability based upon your research. You will probably need only two or three quotes to determine insurance premiums. Be sure to try at least one of the companies that deliver services through the Internet, if you are comfortable with this. Lower overhead for these companies may lead to lower premiums.
• Get quotes from different insurance companies. You may wish to try companies with different methods of sales. Some companies sell through agencies where you deal with actual people; whereas, some deal only online and deliver most services through the Internet. Choose your preferred method of interaction.
• Compare the quotes as to premium costs as well as coverage. It’s best to compare coverage as closely as possible so a real comparison is available.
• Finally, make your determination of the company you choose based upon all your research, not just premiums.

Ways to Save Money on Insurance Premiums

There are a number of ways you can save money on insurance premiums. Here are some of them:

• Request higher deductibles for comprehensive and collision. The more money you’re willing to pay yourself for a loss, the lower your premiums will be. Be sure, though, that you can afford to pay the deductibles because you need to maintain the condition of your vehicle.
• Check out the cost of insurance when you’re purchasing another car. Some vehicles cost more to insure and it’s best to know before you purchase them.
• Take into consideration the age of your vehicle. Older vehicles, typically, over ten years old, have a reduced return on accident repair. Insurance companies often decide to total these vehicles rather than repair them, so carrying comprehensive and collision may cost unnecessary premiums.
• Combine homeowners and auto insurance to get a reduced premium on both.
• A good credit record will help cut insurance premiums – the theory is that individuals with good credit are less likely to commit insurance fraud.

Various insurance companies offer additional discounts for the following conditions:

• No accidents in 3 years
• Low annual mileage (if you carpool or don’t drive much)
• Good student discounts and drivers education courses
• Defensive driving courses
• No moving violations in 3 years
• Antitheft devices

If you belong to some occupational groups, alumni groups, credit unions, or associations, you may qualify for premium discounts.

Examples of these are: Teacher’s Associations, Trade Unions, Government Employees Associations, Yale Alumni Associations, and Pac-10 colleges. Ask about these when you’re requesting a quotation.

Carefully shopping for insurance can save money as well as add to your security of mind when driving. The crowded highways of any city are daunting to individuals as they drive.

Add in the complications of weather, impaired drivers, and road construction, and most of us need a heightened sense of caution.