Baffled by the sheer number of insurance coverage choices that you can choose from? There are so many options that it can turn into a lot of work to find better insurance coverage rates.
It’s a good idea to compare prices once or twice a year because prices change quite often. If you had the best rates for Avenger coverage on your last policy you can probably find a better premium rate now. There is a lot of bad information regarding insurance coverage online, but I’m going to show you some of the best ways to slash your insurance coverage rates.
Performing a rate comparison is a ton of work if you don’t utilize the easiest way. You can waste a lot of time talking about coverages with insurance companies in your area, or you could use online quotes to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
Many popular insurance companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers enter their policy data once, and every company can give them a price. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for every auto insurance company.
To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here (opens in new window).
The one disadvantage to doing it this way is you cannot specify which providers to get quotes from. So if you prefer to pick specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have a page of low cost auto insurance companies in your area. View list of insurance companies.
Whichever method you choose, make sure you are using nearly identical quote data on every quote you get. If your comparisons have mixed coverages it will be very difficult to truly determine the lowest rate. Just a small difference in insurance coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when comparison shopping, having more price comparisons helps locate a better price. Some companies don’t provide quotes online, so it’s important to also get prices from them, too.
Well-known insurance companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads in print and on television. All the companies tend to make the same promise that drivers will save a bundle if you just switch your policy. But how can every company charge you a lower premium? Just pay attention to how they say it.
Insurance companies give the best rates for the type of driver that makes them money. A good example of a preferred risk might have to be between 30 and 50, has never had a policy lapse, and does not commute to work. Someone that fits those parameters receives the best premium rates and have a good chance to save a lot of money.
Potential insureds who do not fit these criteria will probably be forced to pay a higher rate and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads state “people that switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save the amount stated. That’s the way insurance companies can claim big savings. Because each company has a different risk profile, it is so important to compare many company’s car insurance rates. Because you cannot predict the company that will give you lower rates than your current company.
Insurance coverage is not inexpensive, but there are discounts available to help bring down the price. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you complete an application, but a few need to be specifically requested prior to receiving the credit.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, it’s just not the way it works. But any discount will cut your insurance coverage premiums.
Insurance companies that have these discounts include:
If you need lower rates, check with every insurance company to give you their best rates. Savings may not be available in your area. To see a list of insurers that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts, click this link.
When choosing the best insurance coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique.
Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you will benefit from professional help.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form.
Learning about specific coverages of a auto insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Comprehensive protection – This coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as vandalism, damage from flooding and a broken windshield. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Auto liability – This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others. It does not 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. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as structural damage, court costs, pain and suffering, repair costs for stationary objects and emergency aid. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy higher limits if possible.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage – This provides protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Medical expense coverage – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for short-term medical expenses for funeral costs, prosthetic devices and dental work. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision – This pays for damage to your Avenger from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for things such as hitting a parking meter, backing into a parked car, driving through your garage door and crashing into a building. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.
Some companies may not provide online quoting and these small insurance companies only sell through independent agencies. More affordable car insurance can be bought from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection.
Insureds who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including being labeled a high risk driver, unfair underwriting practices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or even extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
Much more information about car insurance can be found at the links below