Being forced to pay for overpriced insurance coverage premiums can diminish your monthly budget and force you to make tough financial choices. Since drivers have many choices of insurance companies, it can be diffult for people to choose the right insurance coverage provider.
It’s a good habit to shop coverage around quite often due to the fact that insurance prices change regularly. Just because you found the lowest price for Galant insurance six months ago a different company probably has better rate quotes today. Block out anything you think you know about insurance coverage because you’re going to learn how to use online quotes to lower your annual insurance bill.
Finding a better price on auto insurance is surprisingly easy. All you need to do is take time comparing rates from some recommended companies. Shoppers can get rates in just a few minutes using one of these methods.
For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.
How you compare quotes is your choice, just compare exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for each price quote. If you use different coverage information it’s not possible to make an equal comparison.
When choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help highlight if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.
Knowing the specifics of your car insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the normal coverages available from car insurance companies.
Collision coverage protection
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers claims such as colliding with another moving vehicle, rolling your car, scraping a guard rail, colliding with a tree and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Coverage for liability
Liability insurance provides protection from damage or injury you incur to people or other property. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see policy limits of 50/100/50 that means you have a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against things like court costs, emergency aid, medical expenses and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
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 and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as theft, damage from flooding, fire damage and falling objects. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Medical costs insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage pay for expenses for funeral costs, doctor visits and chiropractic care. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
UM/UIM Coverage
This coverage gives you protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.