You’ve seen the commercials from companies like The General, State Farm, and Liberty Mutual that promise big savings, so you should just choose the one with the most memorable commercial, right?
That is not the case, however, as there are a whole slew of unknowns like if you are married or single, how many years you have been driving, and your credit rating, that all impact the price you pay. The information below covers the best ways to avoid high prices and hopefully give you enough understanding to have a good start in finding the cheapest car insurance in New York.
Trying to buy cheap auto insurance is not always easy, and finding out which company has the cheapest insurance rates for high mileage drivers may require even more rate comparisons.
Each insurance company uses a little different formula to set their prices, so let’s take a look at the lowest cost insurance companies in Buffalo.
Best Insurance Companies in New York
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,152 |
| 2 | Erie | $1,205 |
| 3 | Utica National | $1,489 |
| 4 | Travelers | $1,529 |
| 5 | Allstate | $1,541 |
| 6 | Progressive | $1,558 |
| 7 | MetLife | $1,572 |
| 8 | Amica | $1,580 |
| 9 | Preferred Mutual | $1,703 |
| 10 | New York Central Mutual | $1,836 |
| 11 | GEICO | $1,850 |
| 12 | Safeco | $1,888 |
| 13 | State Farm | $1,924 |
| 14 | Liberty Mutual | $2,005 |
| 15 | Central Mutual | $2,028 |
| 16 | Hanover | $2,323 |
| 17 | Encompass | $2,662 |
| 18 | Nationwide | $3,054 |
| 19 | Mercury | $3,809 |
| 20 | 21st Century | $4,455 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
USAA normally has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Buffalo at around $1,152 annually. Erie, Utica National, Travelers, and Allstate would also be considered some of the cheapest Buffalo, NY insurance companies.
In the above example, if you are a policyholder with Travelers and switched to USAA, you might achieve yearly savings of around $377. Policyholders with Allstate might save as much as $389 a year, and Progressive insureds might lower prices by up to $406 a year.
To find out how much you can save, click here or feel free to get quotes from the companies below.
Understand that those prices are averaged for all types of insureds and vehicles and are not factoring in an exact location for high mileage drivers. So the insurer that has the cheapest rates for you may not even be in the top 20 companies shown above. That is why you need to compare rates from as many companies as possible using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
The make and model of vehicle you are buying coverage for is probably the largest consideration when consumers are trying to find the best cheap insurance for high mileage drivers. Vehicles with reasonable performance levels, good safety features, or low incidents of liability claims will cost less to insure than adrenaline junky models.
The next list features insurance premiums for a handful of the cheapest vehicles to insure in New York.
| Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $2,142 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $2,189 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $2,340 |
| Ford F-150 XL Super Cab 2WD | $2,347 |
| Ford Edge SEL AWD | $2,482 |
| Honda Civic DX 4-Dr Sedan | $2,490 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 4-Dr Sedan | $2,528 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,601 |
| Honda Odyssey LX | $2,657 |
| Toyota Corolla XRS | $2,716 |
| Ford Explorer XLT AWD | $2,719 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $2,772 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $2,780 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport Package 4WD | $2,825 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $2,854 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $2,861 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $2,871 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $2,917 |
| Dodge Ram Quad Cab Sport 2WD | $2,947 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LT Regular Cab | $2,966 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew Cab 4WD | $2,980 |
| GMC Sierra SL Crew Cab 4WD | $2,987 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 2WD | $3,049 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | |
Premium data assumes single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in specific Buffalo, NY garaging location which can affect insurance rates considerably.
By looking at the data, you can expect models like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Elantra, Ford F-150, and Ford Edge are most likely going to be a few of the cheaper vehicles to insure for high mileage drivers.
The diagram below shows how choosing a deductible can affect yearly insurance costs when searching for cheap insurance for high mileage drivers. The premiums assume a married female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
As shown above, a 30-year-old driver could lower their car insurance rates by $210 a year by switching from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $318 by changing to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger drivers, such as the Age 20 example, can save up to $450 each year by using a higher deductible. When using a larger deductible, it will now be necessary to have spare funds to allow you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the main disadvantage of using high deductibles.
Accidents and violations increase rates
The easiest method to earn cheap insurance premiums for high mileage drivers is to drive cautiously and have a clean driving record. The example below highlights how speeding tickets and accidents increase car insurance costs for different age groups. The premium estimates are based on a married male driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
In the example above, the average cost of car insurance in New York per year with no accidents or violations is $1,771. Receive one speeding ticket and the average cost surges to $2,031, an increase of $260 each year. Then add in two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of insurance for high mileage drivers increases to an average of $4,216. That’s an increase of $2,445, or $204 per month, just for not keeping your driving record clean!
The importance of comparing Buffalo car insurance rates
Buffalo insurance rates are influenced by many factors which can substantially decrease or increase the price you pay. Turning one year older, moving across town, or getting caught speeding can trigger rate changes resulting in some rates now being cheaper than competitors.
In addition, car insurance companies modify rates multiple times each year to help ensure profitability. An extended period of higher than normal claims can cause additional premium costs, while long-term profits can cause lower-cost Buffalo car insurance rates.
As an example, the graph below demonstrates which company has the cheapest car insurance in Buffalo, NY for a 40-year-old female driver with no accidents, a clean driving record, and a decent credit rating. Based on her personal risk profile, USAA may offer the most affordable car insurance rates in Buffalo at $1,898 annually. This is $177 less than the average rate paid by New York drivers of $2,075. Erie, Progressive, Travelers, and Utica National are the remainder of the best Buffalo, NY auto insurance companies.
Let’s now give the driver from the first rate comparison a claim surcharge, slightly worse credit, and a stop sign violation. Since every car insurance company uses a different method to determining premium rates, getting updated rate quotes could now result in a slightly different list of affordable Buffalo car insurance companies as shown below.
Amica now has the cheapest insurance rate in Buffalo with MetLife, Preferred Mutual, Erie, and New York Central Mutual also being competitive. This example demonstrates why New York drivers need to compare rates to get the most economical auto insurance quotes for high mileage drivers. Auto insurance prices are impacted by many different factors and can change without notice, so the most economical option when you bought your policy may now cost much more than other companies.
How to find cheaper car insurance for high mileage drivers
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are some of the better money-saving suggestions that can help Buffalo drivers quote cheaper coverage.
- Full coverage may not be needed on older vehicles
- Buy a safer vehicle
- Increase your deductibles
- Avoid preventable accidents
- Drive safely
- Pay cheaper rates with good credit scores
- Ensure you have the best deal by shopping around regularly
That last idea is especially vital, as we discussed in the article above. Prices charged by car insurance companies in Buffalo go up and down frequently, so drivers shouldn’t be resistant to buy a policy from a new company if a cheaper price is available.
Staying with the same car insurance company is fine, but it’s not a great idea if that loyalty results in overpaying big bucks every year. In just a few minutes you could compare rates and find cheaper auto insurance for high mileage drivers.
If you aren’t sure which coverage to buy and prefer to get some professional advice when comparing insurance rates for high mileage drivers, the insurance agencies listed below can most likely provide answers to your questions and help you determine which auto insurance policy would work best for you. To find a Buffalo insurance agent close to where you live, click the button link following the list.
- Cielinski Richard Insurance Agency
2916 William St – Buffalo, NY 14227 – (716) 892-5154 - Nationwide Insurance: Kevin K Conley
2521 Niagara Falls Blvd – Buffalo, NY 14228 – (716) 691-4000 - The Byrne Insurance Agency Inc
480 Abbott Rd – Buffalo, NY 14220 – (716) 825-4100 - The Cesar Group Inc
354 Cayuga Rd – Buffalo, NY 14225 – (716) 626-0066 - State Farm: Dan Hawrylczak
1335 Hertel Ave – Buffalo, NY 14216 – (716) 873-3771