2011 BMW 3 Series Car Insurance Rates

Have you fallen victim to an overpriced insurance coverage policy? It’s quite common and many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out. Due to the abundance of insurance coverage companies to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to find a lower cost insurance coverage provider.

It’s a great practice to check insurance coverage prices before your policy renews because insurance coverage prices trend upward over time. If you had the lowest rates on 3 Series coverage a few years ago you will most likely find a better rate quote today. You’ll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about insurance coverage online but I’m going to show you a bunch of ideas how to save money.

Compare insurance price quotes

Most companies provide insurance quotes on their websites. This process is easy for anyone because you just enter the coverage amounts you desire as requested by the quote form. When the form is submitted, their quoting system will obtain information on your driving record and credit history and returns a price quote based on these and other factors. Quoting online helps simplify price comparisons, but the time required to go to several different sites and enter the same data into a form is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it is imperative to compare as many rates as possible if you are searching for a better rate.

There is an easier way!

The smarter way to find cheaper rates uses one form to get prices from several companies at one time. It saves time, eliminates form submissions, and makes quoting online much more efficient. After sending the form, your coverage is rated with multiple companies and you can pick your choice of the pricing results.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you can click and sign and purchase the new policy. The entire process only takes a few minutes and could lower your rates considerably.

To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now, click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you input coverages and limits exactly as shown on your declarations page. Using the same limits helps guarantee you will have comparison quotes for similar coverage.

Discount insurance rates

Insurance is not inexpensive, but there may be some discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Certain reductions will be credited at the time of purchase, but a few need to be requested specifically prior to getting the savings. If you do not double check each discount you deserve, you could be saving more on your insurance.

  • Pay Early and Save – By making one initial payment as opposed to paying monthly you may have a lower total premium amount.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Having an actively deployed family member could mean lower rates.
  • Paperless Signup – A few larger online companies provide a small discount for signing up on the internet.
  • Accident Forgiveness Coverage – Not a discount per se, but companies like Progressive, Allstate, and Geico will turn a blind eye to one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
  • Club Memberships – Being in specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations could trigger savings when shopping for insurance.
  • Discounts for Responsible Drivers – Insureds without accidents can save as much as half off their rates on 3 Series coverage than drivers with accident claims.
  • Anti-theft System – Cars and trucks equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Discounts for New Vehicles – Buying insurance on a new vehicle may earn a small discount because newer vehicles are generally safer.
  • Government Employee Discount – Active or former government employment could cut as much as 10% off on 3 Series coverage but check with your company.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But all discounts will reduce your insurance premiums.

If you would like to see a list of companies that offer discounts, click here.

How car insurance companies calculate BMW 3 Series insurance costs

Multiple criteria are used when pricing auto insurance. Some factors are common sense such as traffic violations, but other factors are less obvious such as whether you are married or your vehicle rating.

The items below are some of the items used by companies to determine your rates.

  • Premiums increase with driving tickets – Careful drivers pay lower auto insurance prices than their less careful counterparts. Even a single driving citation can increase the cost of insurance by as much as twenty percent. Drivers unfortunate enough to have flagrant violations such as DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may find that they have to to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
  • Liability insurance is critical – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance will afford coverage if ever you are found liable for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Liability provides legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so insureds should have plenty of protection for their assets.
  • Eliminate unneeded extra coverages – Insurance policies have a lot of add-on coverages you can purchase if you don’t pay attention. Add-on coverages like personal injury protection, accident forgiveness, and membership fees are probably not needed. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so consider taking them off your policy.
  • City traffic equals higher prices – Living in a rural area has it’s advantages when talking about auto insurance. Drivers in populated areas have much more traffic and longer commutes to work. Less people means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate.
  • Lower rates for married couples – Having a significant other actually saves money when shopping for auto insurance. Having a spouse demonstrates that you tend to be more stable financially and insurance companies like that drivers who are married file infrequent claims.
  • Less chance of injury means lower rates – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to be cheaper to insure. Vehicles engineered for safety protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates directly to fewer claims which can result in lower premiums. If your BMW has at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website you may qualify for a discount.
  • Insurance rates and driver gender – Statistics show that females tend to be a little less risky than males. Now that doesn’t mean females are better drivers. Males and females are responsible for auto accidents at about the same rate, but guys tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to get ticketed for serious violations such as reckless driving.
  • Save miles driven and save money – Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Many insurance companies rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Incorrect rating for your 3 Series can result in significantly higher rates. It’s a good idea to make sure your declarations sheet reflects the proper vehicle usage.

Tailor your insurance coverage to you

When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions can help discover whether or not you might need professional guidance.

  • Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
  • Why do I need rental car insurance?
  • Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
  • Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • What are the financial responsibility laws in my state?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Beware of misleading insurance ads

Drivers can’t avoid all the ads that promise big savings for switching from the likes of Allstate and Progressive. All the companies have a common claim that drivers will save a bundle if you move your coverage to them.

How does every insurance company make the same claim? It’s all in the words they use.

Insurance companies require specific criteria for the type of customer that will generate a profit. A good example of a desirable risk should be between 25 and 40, has a low-risk occupation, and chooses high deductibles. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential customers who may not quite match the ideal profile must pay more expensive rates and business not being written. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “drivers who switch” not “everyone who quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. That is how insurance companies can advertise the savings.

Because every company is different, drivers should compare quotes as often as possible. Because without a comparison, you cannot know with any certainty which company will have the best rates for your profile.

Car insurance 101

Understanding the coverages of car insurance can help you determine which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are typical coverages found on most car insurance policies.

Liability coverage

Liability insurance will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. It protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: 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 50/100/50 which means a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability can pay for claims like structural damage, bail bonds and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.

Medical costs insurance

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for chiropractic care, pain medications and doctor visits. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

UM/UIM Coverage

This coverage provides protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your 2011 BMW 3 Series.

Due to the fact that many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as hail damage, damage from getting keyed and hitting a bird. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Coverage for collisions

Collision coverage covers damage to your 3 Series caused by collision with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers things such as scraping a guard rail, sustaining damage from a pot hole, damaging your car on a curb, crashing into a ditch and hitting a mailbox. 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 raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Get your money’s worth

When shopping online for insurance coverage, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Affordable 2011 BMW 3 Series insurance is attainable both online and from local agencies, and you should compare rates from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance coverage companies do not offer internet price quotes and usually these smaller companies prefer to sell through independent agents.

We just showed you a lot of tips how to save on 2011 BMW 3 Series insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote insurance, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the lowest car insurance rates are with the smaller companies. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive or Geico.

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