Feeling guilty for buying overpriced auto insurance? Believe me, many consumers are in the same pinch.
There is such a variety of insurers to pick from, and even though it’s nice to have a selection, having more insurance companies makes it harder to locate the cheapest rates.
Finding affordable coverage is easy if you know what you’re doing. Essentially anyone who shops for insurance most likely will be able to find better rates. Although car owners can benefit from knowing the way companies sell online and apply this information to your search.
Car insurance companies don’t always list every policy discount in an easy-to-find place, so the list below gives a summary of some of the best known and the more hidden discounts that may be available.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Even though it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky. Any amount of discount should help reduce the premium cost.
To see insurers who offer cheap insurance coverage quotes, click here to view.
The majority of larger companies give price estimates direct online. Getting prices online is quite easy as you just enter as detailed in the form. When the form is submitted, their quoting system will order your credit score and driving record and gives you a price quote determined by many factors. Online quotes makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the process of having to visit several different sites and type in the same information can get tiresome after awhile. But it’s absolutely necessary to get many rate quotes if you want to get better prices.
There is an easier way to compare rates
The preferred way to lower your insurance bill uses one simple form to obtain quotes from more than one company. The form is fast, requires much less work on your part, and makes online shopping much easier. After your information is entered, your coverage is rated with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the quote results. If a lower price is quoted, you can simply submit the application and purchase coverage. This process takes 15 minutes at the most and may result in a nice savings.
To find out how much you’re overpaying now, click here to open in new window and submit the form. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you input your coverages as shown on your current policy. This ensures you’re receiving comparison quotes for the exact same coverage.
Smart consumers have a good feel for a few of the rating criteria that help calculate the rates you pay for car insurance. If you have some idea of what determines base rates, this enables you to make decisions that could help you find better car insurance rates. Many things are considered when quoting car insurance. Some are obvious such as your driving record, but others are not as apparent such as whether you are married or your vehicle rating.
The factors shown below are some of the most rate-impacting factors companies use to determine rates.
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions can help discover whether or not you might need professional guidance.
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Understanding the coverages of insurance aids in choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are the normal coverages found on the average insurance policy.
Liability coverages – Liability coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people in an accident. It protects YOU against other people’s claims. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see liability limits of 100/300/100 that means you have $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability can pay for things like medical expenses, attorney fees and structural damage. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like damage from flooding, a broken windshield, fire damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and hitting a deer. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Collision coverages – Collision insurance pays for damage to your 1 Series from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as driving through your garage door, sustaining damage from a pot hole, crashing into a ditch and backing into a parked car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Medical expense insurance – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for bills such as chiropractic care, rehabilitation expenses and surgery. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your BMW 1 Series.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.
When shopping online for insurance coverage, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate and still be able to protect your assets.
The cheapest 2013 BMW 1 Series insurance is definitely available on the web and with local insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not provide online price quotes and most of the time these regional carriers prefer to sell through independent insurance agents.
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