Think you have an expensive insurance coverage policy? You’re preaching to the choir because there are lots of people in the same boat.
You have multiple car insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and although it’s a good thing to have multiple companies, lots of choices makes it harder to adequately compare rates.
There are a variety of methods to shop for insurance, but there is one way that is more efficient than others. You could spend your day driving to insurance agencies in your area, or you could save time and use online quotes to get prices fast.
Many of the larger companies enroll in a system that enables customers to submit one quote, and each company can give them a price for coverage. This saves time by eliminating quote requests to every company.
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The one disadvantage to comparing rates this way is that consumers can’t choose the providers to get quotes from. So if you prefer to pick specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we have a listing of low cost insurance companies in your area. View list of insurance companies.
The approach you take is up to you, just do your best to enter nearly identical coverage limits and deductibles for each comparison quote. If you are comparing unequal deductibles or liability limits you will not be able to get a fair rate comparison. Even a minor difference in insurance coverages or limits could skew the results. Keep in mind that comparing a wide range of rates will enable you to find a better price.
Companies like State Farm and Allstate consistently run ads on TV and radio. All the ads make the point about saving some big amount if you just switch to their company. How does every insurance coverage company give you a better price? It’s all in the wording.
Different companies give the best rates for the type of driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a profitable insured might be described as over the age of 40, has never had a claim, and insures a new vehicle. Anyone that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest premium rates as well as save when switching.
Potential customers who don’t qualify for those criteria may receive higher premiums with the end result being the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The wording the ads use say “drivers who switch” not “everyone who quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently make it sound like they have such great prices. Because each company has a different risk profile, it’s extremely important to get as many free insurance coverage quotes as possible. It is impossible to guess the company that will have the lowest rate quotes.
Lots of factors are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some of the criteria are obvious like a motor vehicle report, but other criteria are more transparent such as your credit history or your financial responsibility.It’s important that you understand the factors that go into determining the level of your policy premiums. When consumers understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this enables you to make decisions that can earn you cheaper rates.
The factors shown below are just a few of the factors that factor into your rates.
Car insurance companies don’t always list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find a few of the more common and the harder-to-find ways to save on insurance coverage.
Policy discounts save money, but most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, that’s just not realistic.
A few of the larger companies and their possible discounts are shown below.
Before purchasing a policy, check with every prospective company to apply every possible discount. Discounts may not be offered in your area. If you would like to see a list of providers that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts, follow this link.
When choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help you determine if your situation might need professional guidance.
If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are the normal coverages available from car insurance companies.
This will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as theft, rock chips in glass, damage from a tornado or hurricane and vandalism. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Collision coverage pays for damage to your Escape resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for claims such as damaging your car on a curb, colliding with a tree, hitting a parking meter and hitting a mailbox. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
This coverage provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people. It protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have liability limits of 100/300/100 that translate to $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability coverage pays for claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, medical services, repair costs for stationary objects, bail bonds and emergency aid. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but consider buying higher limits if possible.
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for immediate expenses like pain medications, nursing services, doctor visits, rehabilitation expenses and prosthetic devices. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Ford Escape.
Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.
Cheap 2010 Ford Escape insurance can be found both online and from local insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies may not have internet price quotes and many times these small insurance companies provide coverage only through independent agencies.
As you quote insurance coverage, make sure you don’t reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best possible price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
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