Nobody I know gets a kick out of paying for car insurance, in particular when their premiums are through the roof.
Consumers have multiple auto insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and even though it’s nice to have a selection, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.
There are a variety of methods to compare insurance coverage quotes, but some are less time-consuming than others. You can waste hours talking to insurance companies in your area, or you could save time and use the internet to get the quickest rates.
Many insurance companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers submit their information once, and each company then gives them pricing based on that information. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for.
To compare pricing click here (opens in new window).
The one disadvantage to getting quotes like this is buyers cannot specifically choose which carriers you will receive quotes from. If you prefer to choose from a list of companies to compare rates, we put together a list of insurance coverage companies in your area. Click to view list.
You can use whichever method you prefer to find lower rates, just make sure you compare apples-to-apples coverages for every quote you compare. If your comparisons have different data it will be very difficult to truly determine the lowest rate. Even a minor difference in limits may result in large price differences. And when quoting insurance coverage, remember that having more price comparisons will increase your chances of finding the best offered rates. Not every company does price estimates online, so it’s important to also get rates from those companies as well.
Car insurance can cost a lot, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can dramatically reduce your bill. A few discounts will automatically apply when you get a quote, but a few must be manually applied prior to getting the savings.
Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. If you do the math and it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, that’s just not realistic.
A list of companies and their offered discounts can be found below.
When getting free auto insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to each insurance company the best way to save money. Some discounts might not be offered on policies in your area. For a list of insurance companies that offer discounts, follow this link.
When it comes to buying the best insurance coverage, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if your situation would benefit from professional advice.
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Knowing the specifics of your policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Car insurance terms can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverage types available from car insurance companies.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as hail damage, hitting a deer and vandalism. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your 2011 Lincoln MKT.
Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Liability insurance – This coverage protects you from damage that occurs to other people or property. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 100/300/100 which means a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability coverage pays for things such as legal defense fees, funeral expenses and loss of income. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but you should buy as much as you can afford.
Collision coverage – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims like sideswiping another vehicle, rolling your car, damaging your car on a curb, colliding with another moving vehicle and crashing into a building. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Another option is to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Insurance for medical payments – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for things like nursing services, funeral costs, doctor visits and surgery. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. It covers you and your occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Some insurance providers do not offer internet price quotes small insurance companies sell through local independent agencies. Cost effective 2011 Lincoln MKT insurance is possible from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, and you should compare rates from both to get a complete price analysis.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at the best possible price.
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