[cs_drop_cap letter=”O” color=”#000000″ size=”5em” ]ne of the best-kept secrets about living in Maine is that many of the factors that help create our high quality of life — like the lack of crowds and traffic — also help keep insurance premiums affordable. “Whether you’re retiring to Maine or buying a second home here, it’s the one thing you can expect to save money on,” says insurance advisor Cale Pickford, AAI, who sells business and personal-property insurance for Allen Insurance and Financial, a 100 percent employee-owned independent agency based in Camden.
How does homeowners insurance in Maine compare to other states?
Maine has one of the lowest costs in the nation. We don’t regularly experience catastrophic events like wildfires or hurricanes, like other parts of the country, so insurers are clamoring for new business in Maine to hedge against losses they’re taking in other markets.
What factors impact the cost of car insurance here?
You don’t have the same traffic congestion or accident rates as you do in bigger cities. Maine drivers are used to the weather, so freak winter storms don’t cause claims to spike the way they do in cities that aren’t accustomed to snow. Plus, Maine is a less litigious state. All those factors help keep rates down.
What’s the biggest mistake people make when buying insurance?
So many people are geared toward ordering products directly online. But you don’t know what you don’t know, especially when you’re moving to a new state. You need an advisory relationship with someone who understands Maine’s unique virtues and challenges. Since we’re an independent agency — we represent more than 20 insurers — we can help you find the product that best meets your needs. And if you do have a major event like a fire or an accident, you’re going to want to have someone you trust guide you through that stressful event.
