2012 BMW 3 Series Insurance Rates

Looking for the cheapest auto insurance rates for your BMW 3 Series? Finding the cheapest insurance for your BMW 3 Series can turn out to be a lot of work, but you can learn these tips to save time.

There are more efficient ways to find auto insurance online and we’ll show you the proper way to price shop coverage for a BMW and find the cheapest rates from both online companies and local agents.

Compare insurance rate quotes

Shopping for lower insurance rates can be a lot of work if you don’t utilize the most efficient way. You could spend the better part of a day driving to agents in your area, or you could save time and use online quotes for quick rates.

Many popular insurance companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to complete one form, and every company then gives them pricing for coverage. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests to every company.

To use this form to compare rates click to open in new window.

The only drawback to getting quotes like this is you can’t choose the providers you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose specific insurance companies to request quotes from, we have assembled a list of low cost insurance companies in your area. Click to view list.

You can choose any of those ways to find more affodable coverage, but be certain you are entering the exact same coverage information for each comparison quote. If you compare unequal deductibles or liability limits you will not be able to determine which company has the best rates.

Don’t overlook these auto insurance discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there’s a good chance there are discounts to cut the cost considerably. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically when you complete an application, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically before they will apply.

  • Homeowners Savings – Simply owning a home can earn you a little savings since home ownership is proof that your finances are in order.
  • E-sign – Many insurance companies will give you a small discount for buying your policy over the internet.
  • Passive Restraints – Options like air bags or automatic seat belts may qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
  • Senior Citizen Discount – If you’re over the age of 55, you could receive lower premium rates on 3 Series insurance.
  • Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll and complete driver’s education as it can save substantially.
  • Savings for New Vehicles – Insuring a vehicle that is new can be considerably cheaper since new model year vehicles have better safety ratings.
  • Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles on your BMW may allow you to get discounted auto insurancerates on garaged vehicles.

Remember that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Some only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

If you would like to view insurers with discount auto insurance rates, click here to view.

Lower insurance rates with these tips

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that are used to determine your premiums. If you know what influences your rates, this enables informed choices that will entitle you to lower premium levels. Lots of factors are part of the equation when quoting car insurance. Some are obvious like a motor vehicle report, but other criteria are less obvious like your continuous coverage or your vehicle rating.

Shown below are some of the most rate-impacting factors used by insurance companies to determine your rate level.

  • Policy add-ons may be wasting money – Insurance companies have many optional add-on coverages that you can buy if you don’t pay attention. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, high-cost glass coverage, and membership fees are probably not needed. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so consider taking them off your policy.
  • Better credit means lower costs – Having a bad credit history will be a significant factor in determining what you pay. Drivers with high credit ratings tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims than those with poor credit scores. Therefore, if your credit rating leaves room for improvement, you may save money insuring your 2012 BMW 3 Series if you clean up your credit.
  • Better rates with anti-theft devices – Driving a car with an alarm system can help lower your premiums. Anti-theft features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can thwart vehicle theft.
  • Keep the miles off and save – The more you drive your BMW every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles that have low annual miles receive better premium rates than those used for commuting. An incorrectly rated 3 Series may be costing you. It’s a smart idea to ensure your insurance coverage policy shows the right rating data, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Being married equates to better premiums – Having a wife or husband may save some money on your policy. Having a spouse may mean you are more stable financially and insurance companies reward insureds because being married results in fewer claims.
  • Decrease insurance coverage rates by maintaining coverage – Having a lapse in insurance coverage is a fast way to pay more for insurance coverage. And not only will your rates increase, not being able to provide proof of insurance will get you a steep fine or even jail time. You will then be forced to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with your state motor vehicle department.
  • Men pay more for auto insurance – Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, don’t assume that females are better drivers. Both sexes have at-fault accidents in similar numbers, but guys cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also get ticketed for serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Occupation impacts premiums – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for insurance coverage? Jobs such as judgesair traffic controllers and accountants generally pay the highest rates due to high stress and long work days. On the flip side, careers like scientists, engineers and performers have lower than average premiums on 3 Series insurance.

When to get professional advice

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, there is no one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different.

For instance, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • What if I owe more than I can insure my car for?
  • Is pleasure use cheaper than using my 2012 BMW 3 Series to commute?
  • Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
  • How can I force my company to pay a claim?
  • I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
  • If my 2012 BMW 3 Series is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • Are rock chip repairs covered?
  • Who is covered by my policy?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Insurance buyers beware

Drivers can’t get away from all the ads for the lowest price insurance from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies seem to make the promise that you can save if you just switch your insurance policy to them.

How does each company offer you a better deal? Here is how they do it.

Companies give the cheapest rates for the type of customer that is profitable for them. One example of a driver they prefer might be described as between the ages of 30 and 50, owns their home, and has great credit. Any person who matches that profile will get very good prices and will also save quite a bit of money when switching.

Drivers who are not a match for this stringent profile may receive more expensive rates and ends up with the customer not purchasing. The trick is to say “drivers who switch” not “all people who quote” save that much when switching. This is how companies can make claims that they all have the best rates.

This really illustrates why you really need to compare many company’s rates. It is impossible to predict which insurance company will have the lowest prices for your situation.

Information about specific coverages

Knowing the specifics of insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers things like theft, hitting a deer and fire damage. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Coverage for liability

Liability insurance can cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

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. You might see values of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is a combined limit that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability can pay for things like attorney fees, funeral expenses and loss of income. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This gives you protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your BMW 3 Series.

Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Frequently the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for immediate expenses for things like ambulance fees, pain medications and EMT expenses. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto collision coverage

This will pay to fix damage to your 3 Series 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 insurance covers things like crashing into a building, driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car, sustaining damage from a pot hole and hitting a mailbox. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

At the end of the day…

When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced collision coverage only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at the best possible price, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

We just presented a lot of tips how to lower your 2012 BMW 3 Series insurance premium rates. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of getting cheaper insurance coverage. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with the smaller companies.

Cheaper auto insurance can be bought from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, so get free insurance coverage quotes from both of them to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies may not offer price quotes online and many times these small insurance companies work with independent agencies.

Additional information