Buying car insurance online might sound like a lofty goal if you are one of the many people who have never used online rate quotes. But don’t be overwhelmed because online price shopping is actually quite simple.
If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these tips. The purpose of this post is to help you learn the best way to quote coverages. But drivers must know the way insurance companies compete online and apply this information to your search.
There are several ways of comparing price quotes from all the different companies. The best way to compare rates is to get quotes online. It’s really quite simple and can be done using a couple different methods.
It’s up to you which method you use, but try to keep exactly the same coverage limits for each quote you get. If you enter different values for each quote it will be very difficult to determine which rate is truly the best. Just a small difference in limits can make a big difference in price. It’s important to know that comparing more quotes helps you find better pricing. Not every company provides quotes online, so it’s important to also get price quotes from those companies as well.
Car insurance companies such as Allstate, Geico and Progressive seem to constantly run ads in print and on television. All the companies make the same claim that drivers will save a bundle if you move to them. That’s great but how can every company sell you cheaper insurance coverage? This is the trick they use.
Companies have strict underwriting profiles for the type of driver that will be a good risk. For instance, a profitable insured could possibly be over the age of 45, has no tickets, and insures a new vehicle. A driver that fits those parameters will most likely get cheap auto insurance rates and will also save when they switch companies.
Potential insureds who do not match this ideal profile will get higher prices and ends up with business going elsewhere. If you pay attention, the ads say “drivers who switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save that much when switching. This is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings.
Because every company is different, you should do a rate comparison at every renewal. Because without a comparison, you cannot know which car insurance company will be your best fit.
It’s important that you understand some of the things that go into determining your policy premiums. If you know what determines premiums, this allows you to make good choices that can help you get better insurance rates.
Shown below are a few of the things used by companies to determine prices.
Insurance coverage is not inexpensive, but you may qualify for discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Some discounts apply automatically at quote time, but some must be specially asked for before being credited.
Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Despite the appearance that adding up those discounts means a free policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
Some of the insurance companies that may offer policyholders these discounts include:
Before you buy a policy, ask all the companies how many discounts you can get. Savings might not be offered on policies in your area. For a list of insurers that offer multiple discounts, click here to view.
When buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different.
For example, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form.
Understanding the coverages of your insurance policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Comprehensive protection
This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like falling objects, theft and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your 1999 Buick Century.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Frequently the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Collision coverage protection
Collision insurance pays for damage to your Century caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for things such as scraping a guard rail, driving through your garage door and damaging your car on a curb. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Liability insurance
This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property in an accident. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 100/300/100 which means a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see a combined single limit or CSL which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage protects against things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage, funeral expenses, court costs and loss of income. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.
Medical expense coverage
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for bills for chiropractic care, prosthetic devices and rehabilitation expenses. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Drivers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as not issuing a premium refund, high rates after DUI convictions, being labeled a high risk driver and delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching companies is not as difficult as it may seem.
When getting insurance quotes online, never buy less coverage just to save a little money. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits and found out when filing a claim that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while still protecting your assets.
There are still a few companies who don’t offer rates over the internet and many times these smaller providers provide coverage only through independent agents. Cost effective 1999 Buick Century insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you should compare rates from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from.
More information is located below:
Ora Roy
If you have a clean record and live around Rochester, MN, check out GEICO. I saved quite a bit. Good multi-policy discounts. You can get a rate quote online.
Jame Berger
I’m just south of Pittsburgh, PA. Got free quotes online for a 1999 Buick Century. Ended up at about $100 savings annually. Went with State Farm. Was with Nationwide. A clean driving record helps.
Kelsie Benson
In Davenport, Iowa compare State Farm with Progressive and see which is best.
Natacha Bates
Great site. Got a quote with GEICO for my Buick and saved around $90 a year. Left Allstate to switch. I’m a pretty low risk driver.
Brittney Sweet
I live just outside Warwick, RI. Got quotes from Safeco, Esurance, Progressive, and American Family for my Buick and I think I saved about $20 each month. Insured with State Farm before. When should I drop full coverage?
Adriene Camacho
I live west of Milwaukee, WI. Checked online prices for a 1999 Buick Century. Ended up at about $100 savings annually. Went with Allstate. Insured with GMAC before. Might find lower rates online.
Maximina Dale
Like your site, BTW. From a town just southwest of Missoula, Montana. Got car insurance quotes from Allstate, AIG Insurance, and some I forget for my Century and am saving around $70 a year. Left MetLife to switch. Got better coverage too. Book value doesn’t justify full coverage anymore.
Gianna Cardenas
Good site, thanks. Got a quote with Mercury for my Century and saved around $90 a year. I’m a pretty good driver though. Can still barely afford it.
Jenell Hays
Nice info. Went with GMAC for my Buick and saved about $60 a year. Insured with MetLife before. My new agent seems to be really good. It was easy to get rates.
Ciera Marquez
I got decent rates for a 1999 Buick Century in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Ended up at about $110 every six months with AIG Insurance. I recommend comparing lots of rates. Book value doesn’t justify full coverage anymore.
Verna Hoffman
I live just outside Greensboro, NC. Quoted with Auto-Owners, Safeco, and Travelers for my Buick and saved about $90 a year. Full coverage costs too much.