No normal person looks forward to paying for car insurance, especially knowing the price is too high.
Big-name insurance companies like Progressive, State Farm and Geico constantly bombard you with ads and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.
Companies don’t list every available discount very well, so the following is a list of both the well known as well as the least known ways to save on insurance.
It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
A few popular companies and a partial list of their discounts can be read below.
When comparing rates, check with all companies you are considering to apply every possible discount. Savings may not apply to policies in your area. To view companies that have a full spectrum of discounts, click here to view.
It’s important that you understand the factors that help determine the level of your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what influences your rates, this enables you to make decisions that could result in lower auto insurance prices.
The factors shown below are some of the factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set your premiums.
When buying coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help you determine whether or not you will benefit from professional help.
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.
Popular insurance coverage providers such as Progressive, Allstate and Geico continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all make the point that you’ll save big if you change your coverage to them. How can each company make the same claim?
Different companies have specific guidelines for the type of insured they prefer to insure. One example of a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and drives less than 5,000 miles a year. A customer that fits those parameters will get very good car insurance rates and will save when they switch companies.
People who don’t meet the ideal profile may receive higher rates and this can result in the customer buying from a different company. The ads say “customers that switch” not “everyone who quotes” save that much. This is how companies can truthfully make it sound like they have such great premium rates.
This really illustrates why you should get price quotes at each policy renewal. It’s not possible to predict with any certainty which company will have the best car insurance rates at this point in time.
Learning about specific coverages of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. Car insurance terms can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are the usual coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Coverage for medical expenses – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills for prosthetic devices, dental work, ambulance fees, X-ray expenses and rehabilitation expenses. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers both the driver and occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Collision coverage – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims like colliding with a tree, scraping a guard rail, colliding with another moving vehicle and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family 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. Normally these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Comprehensive car insurance – This pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as falling objects, hitting a bird, fire damage, hitting a deer and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability auto insurance – Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show liability 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 total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability coverage protects against things like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, funeral expenses and pain and suffering. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but consider buying higher limits if possible.
The cheapest 2009 Porsche 911 insurance can be purchased both online and from local insurance agents, so get free insurance coverage quotes from both of them to get a complete price analysis. Some companies don’t offer rate quotes online and these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through independent agents.
When buying insurance coverage, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced collision coverage to discover at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
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