If you’re new to shopping for insurance coverage quotes online, you can be overwhelmed by the confusing number local agents and online companies competing for your business.
If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Finding the cheapest coverage can be fairly easy. Although vehicle owners do need to learn how insurance companies market on the web and use this information to your advantage.
Some companies don’t list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so below is a list a few of the more well known and the harder-to-find discounts that may be available. If they aren’t giving you every credit available, you’re paying more than you need to.
As is typical with insurance, many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. If you do the math and it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn’t work that way.
A few companies who may offer most of the discounts above include:
If you want the cheapest insurance coverage quotes, ask each insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. A few discounts may not be offered in your area. For a list of companies that offer the discounts shown above, follow this link.
Well-known insurance coverage companies like Progressive, Geico, Allstate and State Farm seem to constantly run television, radio, and online ads. They all seem to advertise claims that you can save if you just switch your policy. But how can every company claim to save you money? Here is the trick they use.
All the different companies offer their best rates for the type of customer that makes them money. One example of a profitable risk profile might have to be over the age of 40, owns a home, and drives a lower-performance vehicle. Anybody who fits that profile gets the lowest car insurance rates and will most likely cut their rates if they switch.
Drivers who are not a match for this stringent profile will probably have to pay higher rates and this can result in business not being written. If you listen closely, the ads state “drivers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. That’s why companies can truthfully make it sound like they have such great car insurance rates.
This really illustrates why you need to do a price quote comparison at every renewal. It’s just not possible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Each situation is unique.
Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
Having a good grasp of your insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage 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.
This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as rock chips in glass, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, theft, a broken windshield and hitting a deer. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
This protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people that is your fault. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 which means a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage pays for things like court costs, legal defense fees, pain and suffering, emergency aid and attorney fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but you should buy as much as you can afford.
This covers damage to your F-150 resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for short-term medical expenses for nursing services, X-ray expenses, dental work and EMT expenses. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
This provides protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Ford F-150.
Due to the fact that many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
As you shop your coverage around, don’t be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best possible price while not skimping on critical coverages.
Cheaper car insurance is attainable from both online companies and from local agencies, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some car insurance companies do not offer rates over the internet and many times these smaller companies only sell coverage through independent agents.
Insureds who switch companies do it for many reasons like policy non-renewal, questionable increases in premium, delays in paying claims or even lack of trust in their agent. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a great new company can be less work than you think.