Cheaper 1998 BMW 3 Series Insurance Cost

I really doubt anyone likes having to buy insurance coverage, particularly when their premiums are through the roof. Lots of auto insurance companies contend for your insurance dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every provider to find the lowest rate possible.

Consumers need to compare prices as often as possible because rates change quite often. Even if you got the best deal on 3 Series insurance last year a different company probably has better prices today. Ignore everything you know about insurance coverage because we’re going to demonstrate the tricks you need to know to find better coverage at a better price.

If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you can follow these tips to reduce the price you pay and possibly find even better coverage. Finding affordable coverage is easy if you know what you’re doing. Vehicle owners only need an understanding of the best way to get comparison quotes online.

The easiest way to get policy rate comparisons is to realize most insurance companies actually pay money for the chance to give rate comparisons. The only thing you need to do is take a few minutes to give details including the ages of drivers, how much education you have, daily mileage, and coverage limits. The rating information is automatically sent to many of the top insurers and you should receive rate quotes with very little delay.

Why your insurance premiums might be higher

Many factors are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious like your driving record, but other factors are less obvious such as your credit history or how financially stable you are.Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what determines base rates, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may result in cheaper rates.

Shown below are just a few of the factors used by insurance companies to determine premiums.

• Do you need those extra coverages? – There are quite a few extra bells and whistles you can purchase when buying auto insurance. Insurance for replacement cost coverage, accidental death, and extra equipment coverage are examples of these. The coverages may be enticing when deciding what coverages you need, but if you’ve never needed them in the past remove them and pocket the money.
• Lower rates by increasing physical damage deductibles – Your deductibles define how much you are required to spend if the claim is covered. Insurance for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some coverage claims could be rearending another vehicle, damage from fire, and having a roll-over accident. The more money you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be on 3 Series insurance.
• Avoid policy lapses – Having a gap between insurance policy dates is a sure-fire way to drive up your policy premiums. Not only will you pay more, failure to provide proof of insurance might get you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license. You may then be required to file a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
• Higher rates for specific employers – Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Jobs such as military personnel, executives and miners have higher rates than average due to job stress and long work days. On the flip side, jobs like professors, students and the unemployed receive lower rates on 3 Series insurance.
• Insurance companies don’t like frequent claims – Auto insurance companies give better rates to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on much higher rates or policy non-renewal. Your car insurance is intended for claims that pose a financial burden.
• Commute or pleasure use – Driving a lot of miles each year the higher your rates will be. A lot of companies charge rates based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet reflects the proper vehicle usage. Having the wrong rating on your 3 Series may be wasting your money.

Car insurance policy discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t list every disount available very clearly, so the list below gives a summary of both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts that you may qualify for.

• Military Discounts – Being on active deployment in the military can result in better prices.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Cars and trucks equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Driver Safety – Passing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more and easily pay for the cost of the class.
• Full Payment Discount – If you can afford to pay the entire bill as opposed to paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
• Discount for Swiching Early – A few companies give discounts for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. Ten percent is about the average savings.
• Multiple Cars – Buying a policy with all your vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
• Mature Driver Discount – Seniors may receive a small decrease in premiums on 3 Series insurance.
• Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off on 3 Series insurance with select insurance companies.

Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. Even though the math looks like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn’t work that way. But all discounts will cut your car insurance premiums.

To see insurance companies with the best discounts, follow this link.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying the best insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions could help you determine if you might need professional guidance.

• When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
• Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
• Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
• What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
• Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
• Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

The coverage is in the details

Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are the usual coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Medical expense coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses such as chiropractic care, funeral costs, X-ray expenses, EMT expenses and dental work. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Collision coverage – Collision insurance covers damage to your 3 Series caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers claims such as colliding with another moving vehicle, damaging your car on a curb and colliding with a tree. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Comprehensive protection – Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things like a broken windshield, damage from getting keyed, damage from flooding, hitting a bird and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your BMW 3 Series.

Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Liability auto insurance – Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property by causing an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 100/300/100 that means you have $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which combines the three limits into one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage pays for things like pain and suffering, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and legal defense fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but buy as much as you can afford.

In conclusion

Discount 1998 BMW 3 Series insurance is available online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you should compare rates from both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies may not provide online price quotes and these smaller providers prefer to sell through independent agents.

We just presented many tips how you can compare 1998 BMW 3 Series insurance rates online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your car insurance rates. Consumers may even find the lowest rates are with some of the lesser-known companies. They may only write in your state and offer lower car insurance rates than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive and Geico.

As you prepare to switch companies, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. The aim is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest cost, but do not skimp to save money.

Other information

• Collision Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
• Anti-Lock Brake FAQ (iihs.org)
• Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)
• Uninsured Motorists: Threats on the Road (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)