Long Island Auto Insurance – Frequently Asked Questions
By Insurance Suffolk Brokerage
“What types of vehicle policies do you write?”
We write all vehicle risks including auto insurance, motorcycle insurance, boat insurance, RV insurance, and off-road vehicle insurance (e.g. quad’s snowmobiles, etc.)
“What insurance company do you work for?”
We do not work for an insurance company as we are not insurance agents. We are an insurance brokerage.
“What is the difference between an auto insurance agent and a broker?”
An auto insurance agent is employed with the company they represent (e.g. Allstate, State Farm, Liberty Mutual) and can ONLY sell products from their respective company. An auto insurance broker is either independent or works for an independent agency. Since auto insurance brokers are not employed by any particular insurance company, clients are offered more choices for coverage due to the numerous carrier relationships they have available to them.
“What auto insurance companies do you work with?”
We work with numerous, top financially-rated auto insurance companies in New York to ensure competitive pricing and quality coverage. Our relationships include Travelers, Merchants, Mercury, The Hartford, AARP, GMAC, Progressive, New York Central Mutual, Kingstone, A.Central, and more.
“What information do I need to give you to quote me for auto insurance?”
Many factors go into underwriting an individual for auto insurance. Information we will need to quote you for coverage is as follows:
- – If presently insured, a copy of your existing auto insurance declarations (to provide you with pound-for-pound quotes)
- – If you do not presently have auto insurance, we will need: The VIN # of your vehicle(s), the named insured’s to be listed on the policy, and if applicable, a certificate for your completed defensive driving course
- – Occupations of named insured’s
- – Miles to work one way for the named insured’s
- – List of all eligible drivers living in your household (e.g. dependent/young adult children, live-in relatives) along with their DOB’s and driver’s license #’s
- – Personal information for all named insured’s. This includes: Your driver’s license #, your DOB, and your SSN
“Why do I need to provide my social security number for an auto insurance quote?”
It is not mandatory you provide this information but since auto insurance companies now generate an “insurance score” based on your credit information as part of their underwriting requirements, many carriers will not quote you without this information. For the few carriers that will quote you without your SSN, you will not receive the best rates available to you. Thus, it is to your advantage that you provide your SSN to your broker when shopping for auto insurance. Even your present auto insurance company has used your SSN in part to generate your renewal premiums, which they also must disclose in your policy documentation. Check it out for yourself…it’s in there.
“Does my car need to be inspected once I am written with an auto insurance policy?”
If your car is seven years old or less, an auto insurance company will need to have your car photo inspected within 5 days after being bound for coverage. There is no charge to the policyholder for vehicle inspections. Insurance Suffolk uses CARCO inspection facilities, and there are locations all throughout Long Island New York for you to choose from.
“I have a loan on my car. Must I carry full coverage?”
Yes. If there is a lien on your vehicle, you must carry comprehensive and collision coverage on your auto insurance policy.
“Do you charge a broker fee for your services?”
No. We are paid the same way insurance agents are paid…from an insurance company.
“Why did my auto insurance rate from my present company go up so much?”
There are many reasons why this could have happened. Driving record, claims history, payment timeliness, insurance scores (credit), eligible household drivers, policy cancellation/reinstatements will all play a role in determining your auto insurance renewal costs. However, every auto insurance company prices their policies differently, which is why you should always shop around for coverage.
“Is there anything else I can do to keep my auto insurance premiums as low as possible?”
Yes:
- – You can optionally shop your homeowners, renters, or umbrella insurance with us in an attempt to place all policies with one company. Auto insurance companies offer multi-policy discounts so take advantage of it!
- – Be patient. A good auto insurance broker (one that put their client’s interest first) will thoroughly investigate all of your options before quoting you
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