Getting the cheapest car insurance can be somewhat difficult for vehicle owners new to comparison shopping over the internet. When there are so many insurance companies available, how are vehicle owners expected to efficiently compare every company in order to find better rates?
If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using this information. This information will help you learn the most effective way to quote insurance and some tricks to saving. But car owners must understand the methods companies use to market on the web and apply this information to your search.
Car insurance companies don’t always advertise the entire discount list very clearly, so the following list contains both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving when you buy insurance coverage online.
A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.
To choose car insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts, click here to view.
When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Each situation is unique.
These are some specific questions might point out whether you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
Big name companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. All the companies have a common claim about savings after switching your policy. How can each company lower your rates? It’s all in how they say it.
All companies have underwriting criteria for the right customer that will most likely be profitable. For example, this type of driver might have to be between 30 and 50, carries full coverage, and has a high credit rating. A propective insured that fits those parameters will get a cheap rate quote and have a good chance to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
People who don’t measure up to those criteria will get a higher premium which results in the customer buying from a different company. If you listen closely, the ads state “customers who switch” not “everyone who quotes” save money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently make claims like that. That is why it is so important to compare many company’s car insurance rates. It’s just not possible to know which company will fit you best based on your risk profile.
Learning about specific coverages of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Liability insurance
Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. This coverage protects you from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show values of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as medical expenses, emergency aid, structural damage, legal defense fees and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.
Medical expense insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for chiropractic care, nursing services, prosthetic devices, ambulance fees and hospital visits. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Pontiac Sunfire.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Collision coverage protection
This covers damage to your Sunfire caused by collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers claims such as damaging your car on a curb, scraping a guard rail, rolling your car and driving through your garage door. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
This coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like hitting a bird, damage from flooding, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and theft. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, an insured dropped full coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate and still be able to protect your assets.
Lower-priced auto insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. Some companies don’t offer online rate quotes and many times these regional carriers provide coverage only through independent agencies.
People change insurance companies for any number of reasons including poor customer service, delays in paying claims, denial of a claim and even delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding the right auto insurance provider can be less work than you think.
To learn more, link through to the articles below:
Francesca Kent
I got a good deal I think. Went with Mercury for my Pontiac and am saving around $80 a year. You can get a rate quote online. Liability only on my Sunfire.
Una Curtis
Got pretty cheap 1997 Pontiac Sunfire insurance from State Farm in Knoxville, TN.
Larita Wong
Does Progressive offer good discounts?
Antonio Crawford
From south side of Salt Lake City, UT. I compared lots of rates. Saved roughly $20 a month. Progressive was the best choice for me. God forbid I actually have a claim. I dropped full coverage awhile back.
Phillis Kemp
I live in Los Angeles, CA. Quoted a bunch of companies. Saved right around $30 a month. GEICO was the most affordable for me. I’m a pretty low risk driver. It’s too old for full coverage.
Gregoria Bolton
I can’t pay high rates. From Frederick, Maryland. Received quotes with American Family, Mercury, and USAA for my Pontiac and am saving around $60 a year. BTW speeding tickets are not good. I quoted rates online then called them. I don’t put full coverage on it.
Jeannie Hendrix
If you have a good history and live in the vicinity of Albuquerque, NM, check out Progressive. They seem to be cheaper. Good savings if you bundle.
Winford Mckay
Great site. I’m in the west part of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Don’t remember every company but I ended up saving about $20 each month. Ask about discounts. I only have liability coverage on it.
Britteny Booker
Here’s what I found out. Live in Augusta, GA. I got free quotes from 21st Century, AAA, and some I forget for my 1997 Pontiac Sunfire and saved around $90 a year.