No normal person is fond of buying car insurance, especially when they know they could lower their rates if they shopped around. Vehicle owners have many car insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s nice to have a selection, lots of choices makes it harder to get the best deal.
Finding affordable coverage is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates while maintaining coverages. Drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to shop over the internet.
Shopping for lower car insurance rates can be exhausting if you don’t know the best way to get rate quotes. You could waste time driving to agents in your area, or you could save time and use the web to achieve your goal.
The majority of car insurance companies are enrolled in a marketplace where insurance shoppers send in one quote, and every company provides a quote determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions for each company. To use this form to compare rates click here to start a free quote.
One minor caviat to using this type of form is you cannot specify the companies you will receive quotes from. So if you want to select specific providers to compare rates, we have a listing of companies who write car insurance in your area. View list of insurance companies.
The approach you take is up to you, just be certain you are entering nearly identical coverage data for each comparison quote. If you enter mixed coverages it’s not possible to get a fair rate comparison.
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some of these disounts will be visible when you quote, but a few need to be inquired about before you get the savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you may be paying too high a price.
As a footnote on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
Some companies that may offer these benefits include:
It’s a good idea to ask each insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. A few discounts may not apply in your area. To choose auto insurance companies with discount rates, click here to view.
When it comes to choosing coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions can help discover if you might need professional guidance.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.
Knowing the specifics of car insurance can help you determine the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverages available from car insurance companies.
Comprehensive insurance – This coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as hitting a deer, a broken windshield and damage from flooding. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This provides protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills like EMT expenses, chiropractic care and pain medications. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision coverages – Collision insurance covers damage to your 626 caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as colliding with another moving vehicle, sideswiping another vehicle, sustaining damage from a pot hole, driving through your garage door and hitting a parking meter. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Liability coverage – Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000.
Liability can pay for things like structural damage, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, pain and suffering and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.