Are you sick and tired of not being able to scrape enough together to pay your insurance coverage bill each month? You have the same problem as the majority of other vehicle owners.
Many insurers vie for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the absolute lowest rate possible.
If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these tips. Finding the best rates is easy if you know what you’re doing. But consumers should learn how big insurance companies determine prices and take advantage of how the system works.
It’s important that you understand a few of the rating criteria that help calculate your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this helps enable you to make changes that can earn you lower rates. Lots of things are considered when you get a price on insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious like a motor vehicle report, but others are more obscure like your vehicle usage or how safe your car is.
The factors shown below are some of the factors used by insurance companies to determine prices.
There are a variety of methods to shop for auto insurance, but some are more efficient than others. You can waste a few hours (or days) discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in your area, or you could save time and use the internet to achieve your goal.
Most car insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to submit their information once, and each company provides a quote based on that data. This eliminates the need for quote requests for each company you want a rate for. To access this free quoting program, click here to open in new window.
The only downside to doing it this way is that consumers can’t choose which providers you will receive quotes from. If you prefer to choose individual companies to compare rates, we have a listing of companies who write auto insurance in your area. View list of insurance companies.
How you compare quotes is your choice, just do your best to enter the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you enter mixed coverages you can’t possibly make a fair rate comparison. Just slight variations in coverage limits could skew the results. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing more quotes will increase your chances of finding the best price.
Well-known car insurance companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm endlessly run television, radio, and online ads. All the ads convey the message that people will save just by switching your coverage. How does every car insurance company make the same claim? This is the trick they use.
Companies quote the lowest rates for the type of customer that will most likely be profitable. One example of a profitable customer may need to be between the ages of 30 and 50, has a clear driving record, and the vehicle is rated for pleasure use. Any person who meets those qualifications will get the preferred auto insurance rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.
Drivers who do not meet the “perfect” profile will see a higher premium with the end result being business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers that switch” not “everyone who quotes” save that much money. This is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must do a rate comparison at every renewal. Because you cannot predict which company will give you the biggest savings.
Car insurance companies don’t necessarily list their entire list of discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts that you may qualify for. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, it’s possible you qualify for a lower rate.
Discounts save money, but please remember that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So even though you would think adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way. But any discount will help lower your policy cost.
If you would like to choose from a list of companies that offer the discounts shown above, click here.
When it comes to buying the best insurance coverage coverage for your vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions may help highlight if your insurance needs may require specific advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Knowing the specifics of auto insurance can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.
Collision coverages – This pays for damage to your Fusion resulting from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for things like crashing into a building, hitting a mailbox, colliding with a tree, driving through your garage door and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your 2013 Ford Fusion.
Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Coverage for medical expenses – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for immediate expenses for ambulance fees, chiropractic care, dental work, hospital visits and surgery. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers both the driver and occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability auto insurance – This coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see liability limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability insurance covers claims like pain and suffering, loss of income, legal defense fees, medical expenses and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.
Comprehensive auto insurance – This coverage covers 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 damage from flooding, damage from getting keyed and hitting a deer. 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 it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
When shopping online for insurance coverage, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. Too many times, someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest cost while still protecting your assets.
Some insurance providers may not provide rate quotes online and usually these smaller companies prefer to sell through independent agents. Affordable 2013 Ford Fusion insurance can be bought from both online companies and from local insurance agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best chance of saving money.
Additional insurance coverage information can be read at these links: