Are you at wits end from wondering where the money will come from to buy auto insurance? You have the same problem as the majority of other vehicle owners. Big companies like Allstate and Progressive continually bombard you with catchy ads and it can be hard to ignore the flying pigs and cute green geckos and do the work needed to find the best deal.
If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you can learn to shop for the lowest rates while maintaining coverages. Finding affordable coverage is not that difficult. Drivers just need to know how to get comparison quotes online.
Companies that sell car insurance don’t always advertise every disount available in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below gives a summary of some of the best known and also the more inconspicuous credits available to you. If you do not check that you are getting every discount you qualify for, you could be saving more on your auto insurance.
Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. If you do the math and it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, nobody gets a free ride. Any amount of discount will positively reduce your premiums.
To view auto insurance companies that offer the discounts shown above, click this link.
When buying proper insurance coverage, there is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.
Consumers can’t avoid all the ads for cheaper auto insurance by Progressive, Allstate and Geico. All the ads have a common claim that you can save if you change your coverage.
How do they all give you a lower rate? This is the way they can do it.
Insurance companies give the best rates for a prospective insured that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might have to be married and over the age of 30, has never had a claim, and has a high credit rating. Any customer that fits those parameters is entitled to the best price as well as save when switching.
Consumers who are not a match for those standards will be charged higher rates and business not being written. The trick is to say “drivers that switch” not “all people who quote” save that kind of money. That’s why companies can advertise the savings. Because each company has a different risk profile, you should compare as many free car insurance quotes as you can. Because you never know which company will be your best fit.
Having a good grasp of insurance can help you determine the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverages found on most insurance policies.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – This gives you protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Ford Tempo.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.
Liability auto insurance – Liability coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property. It protects you from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers claims like medical expenses, loss of income, medical services and legal defense fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.
Medical payments and PIP coverage – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for expenses for things like EMT expenses, ambulance fees, surgery and prosthetic devices. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Collision – Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Tempo caused by collision with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for things such as crashing into a ditch, sustaining damage from a pot hole, crashing into a building and sideswiping another vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive auto coverage – This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as hitting a deer, theft and rock chips in glass. The highest amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to lower your 1992 Ford Tempo insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the best rates are with an unexpected company. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like Allstate, Geico and Progressive.
More affordable insurance coverage can be found on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not have internet price quotes and these small insurance companies only sell coverage through independent agents.