Comparing and finding more affordable coverage rates for car insurance is always slightly frustrating for drivers who are new to online price comparisons. There are so many different companies and agents to choose from that it can easily become a chore to find cheaper car insurance rates.
Consumers need to compare premium rates once or twice a year since prices change frequently. If you had the lowest rate on Sprinter Cargo coverage at your last renewal you can probably find a better premium rate now. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to one of the best ways to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.
Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list every disount available very clearly, so we researched a few of the more common and the more hidden credits available to lower your premiums when you buy car insurance online.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though you would think adding up those discounts means a free policy, that’s just not realistic.
Some of the larger companies that may have these discounts may include but are not limited to:
It’s a good idea to ask each insurance company how you can save money. A few discounts may not be offered in your area. To see a list of insurers that offer some of these discounts, follow this link.
All major insurance companies make it easy to get insurance quotes direct online. Doing online price comparisons is very simple as all you need to do is type in the coverage amounts you desire into a form. When the form is submitted, their system automatically retrieves information on your driving record and credit history and generates pricing information based on these and other factors.
Being able to quote online streamlines rate comparisons, but the process of having to visit different websites and fill out multiple forms can be a bit tiresome and repetitive. But it’s also necessary to have as many quotes as possible in order to get the best price possible.
There is an easier way to compare rates
The easiest way to locate the lowest prices requires only one form that obtains quotes from multiple companies. It’s a real time-saver, requires much less work on your part, and makes rate comparisons a little more enjoyable. Immediately after submitting the form, it is rated and you can choose any or none of the price quotes you receive.
If the quotes result in lower rates, it’s easy to complete the application and purchase the new policy. The whole process takes 15 minutes at the most and may save quite a bit of money.
If you want to get comparison pricing now, click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. If you currently have coverage, we recommend that you enter your coverages exactly as shown on your declarations page. This makes sure you will have a price comparison for exact coverage.
Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that are used to determine your premiums. If you have some idea of what determines premiums, this allows you to make good choices that can help you get lower premium levels. Many things are part of the calculation when pricing auto insurance. A few of the factors are predictable such as your driving history, although others are less obvious like your continuous coverage or how safe your car is.
The items below are some of the items used by your company to calculate your prices.
When choosing proper insurance coverage, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.
Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
Auto insurance companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm consistently run ads on television and other media. All the companies tend to make the same promise about saving some big amount if you change your policy. How does each company offer drivers better rates? Just pay attention to how they say it.
Different companies have specific characteristics for the driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a desirable risk might be described as between the ages of 30 and 50, has never had a claim, and does not commute to work. Someone who fits those characteristics will most likely get cheap car insurance rates and have a good chance to save quite a bit of money when switching.
Potential customers who do not match those standards will see a higher rate which results in business going elsewhere. The trick is to say “people who switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.
Because of this risk profiling, drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It’s just not possible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.
Having a good grasp of your insurance policy aids in choosing which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers things such as rolling your car, hitting a mailbox, hitting a parking meter and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Dodge Sprinter Cargo.
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. Frequently these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Liability coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other people or property that is your fault. It protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which means a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability insurance covers claims like loss of income, bail bonds, medical services, emergency aid and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford.
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as fire damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane and damage from getting keyed. The most your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for expenses such as EMT expenses, X-ray expenses and prosthetic devices. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Lower-priced auto insurance is possible online and from local insurance agents, so you need to shop car insurance with both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies don’t offer online rate quotes and most of the time these regional carriers sell through independent agents.
Drivers change insurance companies for many reasons like delays in paying claims, policy cancellation, delays in responding to claim requests and even lack of trust in their agent. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider is not as difficult as it may seem.
When getting car insurance quotes online, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage and discovered at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
For more information, take a look at these articles: