Do you get exhausted from robbing Peter to pay Paul to buy auto insurance? You are no different than most other people. You have multiple auto insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s a good thing to be able to choose, more choices can make it harder to find the best rates.
Consumers need to do rate comparisons on a regular basis because prices trend upward over time. Even if you got the best price for Flex insurance last year you may be paying too much now. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because it’s time to teach you the fastest and easiest way to lower your annual insurance bill.
Performing a rate comparison can be a daunting task if you aren’t aware of the most efficient way to do it. You can waste hours talking about coverages with insurance companies in your area, or you can utilize the web to maximize your effort.
The majority of car insurance companies take part in a program that allows shoppers to complete one form, and each company then gives them pricing based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing form submissions for every insurance company. To compare rates using this form now click to open in new window.
The only downside to doing it this way is you cannot specify which providers to get pricing from. So if you prefer to choose individual companies for rate comparison, we have assembled a list of companies who write insurance in your area. Click to view list.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but be certain you are entering equivalent quote data on every price quote you get. If you are comparing higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to find the best deal for your Ford Flex.
Insurance is not inexpensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available that could drop your premiums quite a bit. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but a few need to be inquired about before you get the savings.
One last thing about discounts, most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. Despite the fact that it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it’s just not the way it works.
A few of the larger companies and the discounts they provide include:
Before buying, ask every insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be offered in your area.
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions might help in determining whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.
Having a good grasp of a auto insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverage types found on the average auto insurance policy.
Collision insurance pays for damage to your Flex 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 a tree, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a parking meter, hitting a mailbox and crashing into a ditch. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses such as hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses, chiropractic care and pain medications. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
This coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Ford Flex.
Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
This will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as damage from flooding, a broken windshield and rock chips in glass. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Liability insurance will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property in an accident. 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 which stand for $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage pays for claims like medical services, structural damage, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, court costs and bail bonds. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.
As you quote insurance coverage, you should never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best possible price.
Lower-priced auto insurance can be bought both online as well as from insurance agents, and you should compare rates from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies may not provide rate quotes online and many times these regional carriers only sell through independent insurance agents.
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