2012 Kia Rio Insurance Rates

Buying the cheapest auto insurance can seem to be rather challenging for vehicle owners new to quoting and price shopping over the internet. When there are so many companies competing online, how can you have the ability to compare them all to find the best pricing?

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Finding more affordable coverage can be fairly easy. Although consumers do need to learn how big insurance companies price insurance differently because it can help you find the best coverage.

The method we recommend to compare insurance rates in your area is to understand auto insurance companies actually pay money for the chance to provide you with free rate quotes. To start a quote, the only thing you need to do is provide details including which vehicles you own, your general credit rating, driver details, and whether the vehicles are used for commuting. That rating information is submitted instantly to insurance companies and they return quotes quickly.

Do insurance companies bend the truth?

Geico, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. All the ads seem to make the promise that drivers can save some big amount if you get a free car insurance quote and switch your policy. How is it possible that every company can offer drivers better rates? Here is the trick they use.

Different companies have specific guidelines for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a driver they prefer could be between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and chooses high deductibles. A driver that matches those criteria will qualify for the lowest car insurance rates and will most likely save a lot of money.

Potential customers who fall outside this ideal profile will see more expensive rates and business going elsewhere. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “customers who switch” not “everyone who quotes” save the amount stated. That is how companies can truthfully make claims like that.

Because of these techniques, drivers should get car insurance quotes as often as possible. It’s impossible to know with any certainty which company will give you lower prices than your current company.

How car insurance companies determine Kia Rio insurance costs

Many different elements are part of the equation when you get a price on insurance. A few of the factors are predictable such as your driving history, but other factors are not quite as obvious like your continuous coverage or how financially stable you are.Part of the car insurance buying process is learning some of the factors that play a part in calculating your policy premiums. If you have some idea of what impacts premium levels, this allows you to make good choices that may reward you with lower rates.

The factors shown below are some of the major factors used by insurance companies to determine your rates.

  • Know your credit history – Having a bad credit score is a big factor in calculating your car insurance rates. If your credit score is not that good, you could potentially save money when insuring your 2012 Kia Rio by spending a little time repairing your credit. People that have good credit tend to be better risks to insure than drivers with poor credit scores.
  • Discounts for married drivers – Your spouse can actually save you money on your car insurance policy. Having a spouse means you’re more mature and responsible and insurance companies reward insureds because being married results in fewer claims.
  • Avoid traffic tickets – Having just one chargable violation could increase your next policy renewal by as much as twenty percent. Careful drivers get better prices compared to bad drivers. People who have multiple violations like reckless driving or DUI may be required to submit a SR-22 form with their state’s licensing department in order to continue driving.
  • Only buy incidental coverages you need – Policies have extra add-on coverages that can waste your money if you aren’t careful. Add-on coverages like personal injury protection, high-cost glass coverage, and Farm Bureau memberships are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when deciding what coverages you need, but your needs may have changed so consider taking them off your policy.
  • Teen driver insurance rates – Older insureds are shown to be more cautious, are lower risk to insure , and are generally more financially stable.Beginning drivers are statistically proven to be less responsible when driving so they pay higher car insurance rates.
  • Theft deterrents save – Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all help prevent vehicle theft.
  • Fewer miles means better prices – The higher the miles on your Kia in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. A lot of insurance companies apply a rate based upon how much you drive. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your vehicle rating properly reflects the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money. An incorrectly rated Rio can result in significantly higher rates.
  • No car insurance claims equals cheaper car insurance rates – If you file a lot of claims you can pretty much guarantee either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Companies award the best rates to drivers who are claim-free. Auto insurance is designed for larger claims.

Car insurance rates and discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you may qualify for discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically when you complete an application, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied before you get the savings.

  • Professional Memberships – Having an affiliation with certain professional organizations can get you a small discount on your policy.
  • ABS Braking Discount – Vehicles that have anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive so you can save 10 percent or more.
  • Multi-line Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a small discount if you purchase a life policy as well.
  • No Accidents – Drivers who stay claim-free get the best car insurance rates in comparison to frequent claim filers.
  • First Accident Forgiveness – This one isn’t a discount, but a handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident without the usual rate increase as long as you don’t have any claims before the accident.
  • Early Signing – Some insurance companies give discounts for buying a policy early. You could save around 10% when you buy car insurance online.
  • College Student – Youth drivers who live away from home at college and don’t have a car may be insured at a cheaper rate.
  • Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for lower premium rates on Rio insurance.

Don’t be surprised that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though the math looks like it’s possible to get free car insurance, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.

To locate companies that provide some of the discounts listed above, click this link.

Situations that may require an agent’s advice

When buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

For example, these questions may help you determine whether you could use an agent’s help.

  • What is roadside assistance coverage?
  • Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
  • What is PIP insurance?
  • What discounts do I qualify for?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Should I rate my 2012 Kia Rio as pleasure use or commute?

If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

Parts of your insurance policy

Having a good grasp of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.

Collision coverage

Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage protects against things such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, colliding with another moving vehicle and crashing into a ditch. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive coverages

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like a broken windshield, damage from flooding, vandalism, damage from a tornado or hurricane and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.

Auto liability insurance

This coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people in an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability insurance covers claims such as pain and suffering, attorney fees, legal defense fees and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.

Coverage for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses like dental work, doctor visits and pain medications. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and damage to your Kia Rio.

Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Shop smart and save

When you buy car insurance online, don’t be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at the best price, but do not skimp to save money.

Lower-priced insurance coverage is available on the web as well as from independent agents, so you need to shop car insurance with both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and usually these smaller providers sell through independent agencies.

People change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including delays in paying claims, lack of trust in their agent, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason, switching companies is not as difficult as it may seem.

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