Are you baffled by the dozens of insurance coverage companies available to you? There are so many companies available that it can easily become a challenge to find lower prices.
Consumers need to price shop coverage periodically because rates change regularly. Just because you found the best premium rates for Swift coverage a couple years back a different company probably has better prices today. Block out anything you think you know about insurance coverage because it’s time to teach you one of the best ways to remove unneeded coverages and save money.
The best way to get rate comparisons is to realize most of the bigger providers provide online access to provide you with a free rate quote. All consumers are required to do is give them some information including the year, make and model of vehicles, types of safety features, if you have a valid license, and your credit rating estimate. That rating information is instantly sent to many highly-rated insurers and they respond with quotes immediately.
When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Every situation is different.
These are some specific questions may help highlight whether you might need professional guidance.
If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.
Learning about specific coverages of your policy can be of help when determining the right coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Suzuki Swift.
Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Collision insurance
This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Swift resulting from a collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage pays for things such as scraping a guard rail, crashing into a building and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses for surgery, doctor visits and EMT expenses. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Comprehensive auto coverage
Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, rock chips in glass, a broken windshield, hail damage and falling objects. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Auto liability
Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 that means you have a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability can pay for claims like attorney fees, legal defense fees, bail bonds, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and court costs. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.