Tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? You are no different than the majority of other people. There is such a variety of insurers to choose from, and although it’s a good thing to have multiple companies, having more insurers makes it harder to compare rates and cut insurance costs.
Finding affordable coverage is quite easy. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. Drivers just need to understand the most effective way to get comparison rates online.
An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the factors that help determine the level of your policy premiums. When consumers understand what determines base rates, this enables informed choices that could help you find much lower annual insurance costs.
There are several ways to compare insurance prices but one way is easier and takes less work. You could spend your day talking to insurance agencies in your area, or you could save time and use online quoting for quick rates.
Many of the larger companies take part in a program where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company then gives them pricing determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions to each individual insurance company.
To use this form to compare rates click here (opens in new window).
The one disadvantage to comparing rates this way is you cannot specify the insurers to get quotes from. If you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have assembled a list of companies who write insurance in your area. Click to view list.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but double check that you are using apples-to-apples quote data with each company. If you compare higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to truly determine the lowest rate.
Consumers constantly see and hear ads that claim the best premium rates from the likes of Allstate and Progressive. All the ads seem to make the promise about savings just by moving to them.
How does each company make almost identical claims? Here is the trick they use.
Companies quote their best rates for the type of driver that is profitable for them. One example of a preferred risk could possibly be between 25 and 40, carries high limits, and has great credit. A driver who fits that profile will get low car insurance rates and therefore will save a lot of money.
Insureds who fall outside these stringent criteria will probably be forced to pay more expensive rates which translates to the customer not purchasing. The trick companies use is to say “customers that switch” not “all people who quote” save that kind of money. That’s why insurance companies can claim big savings. Because of the profiling, you really need to get auto insurance quotes from several different companies. Because you never know which company will give you the biggest savings.
Companies offering auto insurance don’t list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so below is a list both well-publicized and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you are not receiving all the discounts possible, it’s possible you qualify for a lower rate.
One thing to note about discounts is that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.
To see providers with the best auto insurance discounts, follow this link.
When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions might point out whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Understanding the coverages of your policy can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are typical coverages found on the average insurance policy.
Collision insurance
Collision insurance covers damage to your Electra from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against claims like damaging your car on a curb, crashing into a ditch, colliding with a tree and scraping a guard rail. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Coverage for medical payments
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for expenses such as doctor visits, dental work, pain medications and funeral costs. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers you and your occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Liability auto insurance
This provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property in an accident. It protects YOU against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 50/100/50 which stand for a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for claims such as bail bonds, loss of income and medical expenses. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but you should buy higher limits if possible.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Comprehensive coverages
Comprehensive insurance covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as hitting a deer, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and falling objects. The maximum payout a insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
We covered many tips how you can shop for 1990 Buick Electra insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the best car insurance rates are with the smaller companies. Smaller companies often have lower premium rates on specific markets than their larger competitors like Geico and State Farm.
Budget-friendly insurance coverage is available online as well as from insurance agents, so you need to shop auto insurance with both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers don’t offer rates over the internet and many times these smaller providers only sell through local independent agencies.
When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s not a good idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.