Not sure if you need Salem auto insurance? Car crashes, vehicle thefts, fender-benders; it’s a fact of life, we all need car insurance at some point. Another fact is that in Salem, auto insurance is not cheap. Drivers located so close to Boston often commute to the busy city for work or pleasure. This puts us at a higher risk of involvement for car accidents.

In fact, only about 28% of Salem residents actually work here in Salem. However, there are ways to find the right Salem auto insurance coverage, at the best price, with a strong insurance agency that will be ready to take care of your needs when they occur.

Many of our neighbors might think that the best answer is the one that keeps them driving legally at the lowest cost. Unfortunately, when they need it most, the insurance that kept them on the road isn’t enough to get them driving again.

Finding the Best Salem Auto Insurance Coverage

Look for coverage that fits your needs first. The first step is to understand what those needs are. How do you drive the car being insured? Be honest, now. If you are less than a perfect driver, it could be in your interest to consider more than just basic coverage.

Does your commute to and from work lead you into Lyme or Boston? Accidents can happen anywhere, but do they always seem to happen in your vicinity? It’s not personal, but you need to recognize if your driving environment is in any way more hazardous than others. If so, it is more likely that if you are in an accident you will need to address issues that basic liability coverage doesn’t.

Look at where you’ll be parking your vehicle. Not just at your home, but at work and on the weekend, too. Will those places increase the chances of your car or truck being vandalized, stolen, or crashed into? The amount of auto theft in Salem, according to City-Data, has been decreasing consistently for the past decade. While there where 185 vehicle thefts in 2000 the most recent count showed only 30 thefts in 2007. Nationally, the crime index here is lower than it is nation wide. The national crime index average is at 320.9, while here in Salem it's only 181.2. This has good results for your insurance rates. It also means that it is to your benefit to let your insurer know if you rarely leave Salem to commute to the big city.

What type of vehicle do you drive? Chances are that if it is the car of your dreams, it could be the car of someone else’s as well. Also, don’t think that just because you don’t drive a Mercedes that no one will steal your vehicle. In fact, the most stolen vehicle in our great state is the Honda Civic. So consider these issues when deciding what level or amount of coverage you need.

Finding the Best Salem Auto Insurance Agent

You will need to consider a few key items before choosing a company to write your auto insurance policy. First, research the company’s financial stability. The worst thing that could happen is that you commit large sums of money toward monthly premiums only to have your insurance agency file bankruptcy when you file an insurance claim.

You will also want to look into the company’s business history. Find out if they have a history of denying claims, or delaying payments in anyway. How do they treat their customers when they do file a claim? Will the service they provide before, during, and after a claim be worth the price you pay each month?

Locating a company and an agent is easier than it used to be. Several websites offer free quote tools that will retrieve rate quotes from insurers in your area. Then you can compare the benefits and costs based on your actual needs. It's a great place to start your search.

Finding Cheap Salem Auto Insurance

OK, now that you are thinking about what you want in a Salem auto insurance agency, and what you need in an insurance policy, we can cover what can be the most difficult part of getting an insurance policy in Salem; getting a policy you can afford. What might surprise you, however, is that even getting a policy that covers all of your needs, there are ways to make it fit your budget.

Many times insurance agencies have a number of discounts, incentives, and promotions to keep good customers or get new ones to write policies. There are discounts for carrying continual insurance coverage for more than a year (called longevity discounts) even if you didn’t have coverage with the same company. There are student discounts, senior discounts, discounts for members of certain organizations like AARP or the even potentially the Salem Chamber of Commerce.

There are also discounts for things like housing the vehicle in a garage or having an alarm system or Lojack installed, taking drivers education, driving fewer miles than the local annual average, or for paying for six months of coverage outright versus making monthly payments. The trick is you have to ask for these discounts, as agents have no incentive to encourage you to get them, so be sure to ask. You’ll be surprised how much money this can save you from the total cost of your policy.

Using these discounts you can not only get a policy that covers all of your auto insurance needs, but one that you can afford as well. So whether you are driving to Pickering Wharf or the East India Shopping Mall, you know you are protected. Use the tool at the top of the page to get started comparing cheap Salem auto insurance quotes online today!