Nobody rejoices having to buy insurance coverage, especially knowing they are paying too much.
Online insurance companies like Allstate, Progressive and Geico persitently shower you with ad campaigns and it is difficult to ignore the propoganda and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
It’s important to quote other rates every six months because prices go up and down regularly. Just because you found the lowest price for Town and Country coverage last year you will most likely find a better rate quote today. Block out anything you think you know about insurance coverage because you’re going to learn the quickest way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.
If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Choosing the best insurance company for you is easy if you know what you’re doing. Although car owners must understand how insurance companies market insurance on the web.
There are a variety of methods to shop for insurance, but one way is less labor-intensive and much quicker. You could spend the better part of a day talking to insurance agencies in your area, or you can stay home and use online quoting to get prices fast.
Most car insurance companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to submit their information once, and at least one company then returns a price quote based on the submitted data. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions to each individual insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.
The one disadvantage to using this type of system is that consumers can’t choose which carriers you want to price. So if you want to select from a list of companies to compare rates, we have a listing of insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.
Whichever way you choose to compare rates, compare identical coverage information for every quote you compare. If you enter differing limits it’s impossible to get a fair rate comparison. Even a minor difference in coverage limits could mean much higher rates. Just remember that comparing a large number of companies will increase your chances of finding a lower rate. Some insurance companies are not set up to provide price estimates online, so you should also compare price quotes from them, too.
Some companies don’t necessarily list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the below list has both the well known as well as the least known discounts that you may qualify for.
As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.
The best auto insurance companies and their offered discounts are shown below.
It’s a good idea to ask every company which discounts you qualify for. Discounts might not be offered on policies in your area. To view insurers who offer free auto insurance quotes, click here to view.
When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.
Having a good grasp of insurance helps when choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are typical coverage types offered by insurance companies.
Comprehensive protection – This coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like hail damage, rock chips in glass, hitting a bird and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Coverage for liability – Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property by causing an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 100/300/100 that translate to $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers claims like attorney fees, structural damage, repair costs for stationary objects and legal defense fees. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Collision coverage – Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Town and Country from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims like rolling your car, crashing into a ditch, hitting a mailbox and crashing into a building. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Medical expense coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses such as X-ray expenses, funeral costs and EMT expenses. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage