Did a good deal turn into high-priced auto insurance? Trust us, there are lots of people in the same boat. Numerous car insurance companies battle for your business, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurance companies and get the definite cheapest price
The best way to find cheaper car insurance is to take a look at some of the elements that aid in calculating the level of your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what controls the rates you pay, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that can earn you cheaper rates.
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but companies offer discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you complete an application, but less common discounts must be specially asked for in order for you to get them.
Just know that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way. Any amount of discount will positively reduce the amount you have to pay.
Car insurance companies that have these discounts include:
When getting free auto insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to every company which credits you are entitled to. Some discounts may not be offered everywhere. If you would like to choose from a list of car insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts, follow this link.
Consumers can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings for switching by companies like Geico, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to make an identical promise that you can save after switching your coverage to them.
How can each company claim to save you money?
Most companies quote the lowest rates for the type of driver that earns them the most money. For instance, a profitable insured could be a married male, has no claims, and drives a vehicle with a low ISO rating. Any new insured that meets those criteria will get the preferred prices and is almost guaranteed to save a lot if they switch.
Consumers who do not meet those criteria will get a higher rate which leads to the customer buying from someone else. The wording the ads use say “customers that switch” not “all people who quote” save that much. That’s the way companies can advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you absolutely need to do a price quote comparison at every renewal. It is impossible to predict which company will have the best premium rates.
When buying the best car insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions can aid in determining whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.
Learning about specific coverages of a insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverages available from insurance companies.
Liability car insurance
This will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. It protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability coverage protects against things such as structural damage, pain and suffering and medical services. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
Coverage for medical payments
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses for things like pain medications, nursing services and funeral costs. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Collision protection
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car and crashing into a building. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
This coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your GMC Rally Wagon.
Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Comprehensive coverages
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as theft, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, vandalism, a broken windshield and fire damage. The highest amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and most of the time these smaller providers sell through independent insurance agents. More affordable car insurance can be found on the web and also from your neighborhood agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best chance of saving money.
When getting auto insurance quotes online, it’s a bad idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to discover later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage at the lowest possible cost while not skimping on critical coverages.