Are you sick and tired of not being able to scrape enough together to make your auto insurance payment? You’re in the same situation as many other consumers. Popular companies such as Allstate, Progressive and Geico continually bombard you with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to avoid their marketing magic and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
It’s smart to check auto insurance prices on a regular basis due to the fact that insurance rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. If you had the best deal on CL coverage last year you may be paying too much now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because we’re going to show you the tricks you need to know to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.
If you are insured now or are shopping for new coverage, you can follow these tips to get lower rates while maximizing coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you is not that difficult. Drivers only need an understanding of how to compare rates online.
All major insurance coverage companies allow you to get insurance quotes on the web. Comparing rates online is pretty painless as all you need to do is type in your personal and coverage information as detailed in the form. After the form is submitted, the quote system makes automated requests for your driving and credit reports and gives you a price quote based on these and other factors. This makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the work required to visit many different websites and fill out multiple forms is repetitive and time-consuming. But it is imperative to perform this step in order to get better prices.
There is a better way!
A better way to find better insurance coverage pricing utilizes a single form that obtains quotes from a bunch of companies at once. The form is fast, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes rate comparisons a lot less work. Once the form is submitted, your coverage is rated and you can select any of the resulting price quotes. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can simply submit the application and buy the new coverage. This process can be completed in less than 10 minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.
To save time and use this form to compare rates, click here and submit your coverage information. To compare your current rates, we recommend you complete the form with the insurance coverages exactly as they are listed on your policy. This ensures you will be getting an apples-to-apples comparison for similar insurance coverage.
Some companies don’t necessarily list every disount available very clearly, so the next list breaks down a few of the more well known and also the more inconspicuous discounts that may be available.
You can save money using discounts, but most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, nobody gets a free ride. But any discount should help lower your auto insurance premiums.
Popular auto insurance companies and a selection of discounts are outlined below.
If you are trying to find cheaper auto insurance quotes, ask each company or agent how many discounts you can get. Some of the discounts discussed earlier might not be offered in your area. To see a list of insurance companies that offer the discounts shown above, click this link.
When buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions can help discover if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.
Understanding the coverages of your policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverage types available from insurance companies.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.
Collision protection
Collision insurance covers damage to your CL caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage pays for claims like damaging your car on a curb, hitting a mailbox and driving through your garage door. 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. Another option is to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Liability coverage
Liability insurance can cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage pays for things like funeral expenses, repair costs for stationary objects, emergency aid and medical services. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.
Comprehensive insurance
This pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, rock chips in glass, hail damage, damage from getting keyed and fire damage. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses for dental work, hospital visits and surgery. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay