Car insurance shoppers not familiar with comparing insurance quotes on the web may find buying inexpensive auto insurance is very challenging.
Choosing the best insurance company for you is not rocket science. If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. But car owners need to learn the way companies price online insurance.
There are multiple methods to shop for car insurance, but one way is less labor-intensive and much quicker. You could waste a few hours driving to agents in your area, or you can stay home and use online quoting to achieve your goal.
Most car insurance companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to submit one quote, and every company then gives them pricing for coverage. This eliminates the need for form submissions for each company you want a rate for. To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here to open in new window.
One minor caviat to using this type of form is buyers cannot specifically choose which providers to get pricing from. So if you prefer to choose specific providers to compare, we have a page of companies who write car insurance in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.
Compare rates however you want, just ensure you’re using identical quote information for every quote you compare. If you compare different deductibles you will not be able to get a fair rate comparison. Slightly different coverages may cause a big price difference. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing all the rates in your area will enable you to find the best price.
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that may help make it more affordable. Some discounts apply automatically at the time you complete a quote, but some discounts are required to be specifically requested before you get the savings. If you are not receiving all the discounts you deserve, you could be paying more than you need to.
As a sidenote, some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it appears you could get a free insurance coverage policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
A partial list of companies that may offer policyholders many of the previously listed discounts include:
Before buying, ask each insurance company the best way to save money. Some discounts listed above might not be offered on policies in every state. To see insurers that have a full spectrum of discounts, click this link.
When it comes to choosing the best car insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different.
Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.
Knowing the specifics of insurance can be of help when determining which coverages you need for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
This can cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 25/50/25 which means a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability can pay for things such as medical services, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage and pain and suffering. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills for ambulance fees, rehabilitation expenses and pain medications. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like a broken windshield, damage from flooding, hitting a bird, damage from a tornado or hurricane and hail damage. The maximum payout your insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
This protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Mitsubishi Galant.
Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Collision coverage pays for damage to your Galant caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against things such as colliding with another moving vehicle, backing into a parked car, hitting a mailbox, sustaining damage from a pot hole and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.