Are you sick and tired of paying out the nose to keep your car insured? You have the same problem as many other consumers.
Insurance companies such as Geico and Progressive continually bombard you with advertising and consumers find it hard to see through the cute green geckos and mayhem and find the best price available.
It’s smart to check auto insurance prices periodically because auto insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. If you had the best premium rates on SierraHD coverage a year ago other companies may now be cheaper. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the best way to get good coverage at a lower rate.
There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance quotes, but some are less time-consuming than others. You can spend your afternoon discussing policy coverages with insurance companies in your area, or you can stay home and use the internet to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
The majority of car insurance companies take part in a program that enables customers to send in one quote, and each company can give them a price determined by their information. This prevents consumers from doing quotation requests for each company you want a rate for.
To participate in this free quote system, click here to open in new window.
The one downside to doing it this way is that consumers can’t choose which carriers to get quotes from. So if you want to select specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.
Whichever method you choose, be sure you’re using the same quote data for each quote you get. If you enter different values for each quote it’s not possible to get a fair rate comparison. Quoting even small variations in coverages can result in a big premium difference. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing more company’s prices helps improve the odds of finding the best rates.
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that may help make it more affordable. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be inquired about before they will apply.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
A partial list of companies who may offer most of the discounts above include:
If you need lower rates, check with each company which credits you are entitled to. Some discounts may not be available everywhere. To locate insurance companies that offer discounts, click this link.
When it comes to buying coverage, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.
Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are the usual coverages offered by insurance companies.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for immediate expenses like pain medications, X-ray expenses, EMT expenses, ambulance fees and funeral costs. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
This covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as hitting a deer, damage from a tornado or hurricane, damage from getting keyed and vandalism. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Liability coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see liability limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is one number which is a combined single limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage pays for things such as emergency aid, legal defense fees and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but consider buying higher limits if possible.
This coverage provides protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your GMC Sierra 2500HD.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Frequently the UM/UIM limits are set the same as your liablity limits.
This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Sierra 2500HD from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims like backing into a parked car, colliding with another moving vehicle and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Nora Pena
Lots of good stuff here. Went with Mercury for my GMC and am saving around $60 a year. Get lots of quotes to find the best rate.
Shea Mcpherson
I’m in San Jose, CA, and State Farm rates were affordable. Insured with Esurance before. Have an at-fault accident tho. I don’t have comp or collision coverage.
Carolin West
Allstate is cheapest in Oklahoma! :)
Katharine Atkinson
Cheap is not always the best policy. Live in the southern part of Saint Louis, Missouri. Compared quite a few companies. Saved about $10 a month. State Farm was the most affordable for me. Thankfully I have a good driving record. I got prices on the web.
Dena Phillips
I compared a lot of rate quotes for a 2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD in Kansas City, Missouri. Ended up at right around $110 every six months with Auto-Owners. Insured with Esurance before. I only have liability coverage on it.
Nelia Flowers
This is too expensive. Checking in from Chesapeake, VA. Quoted a bunch of companies. Saved right around $30 a month. 21st Century was the cheapest option for me. Was with Erie. Just liability coverage since it’s getting old.
Mirta Emerson
I’ve bought from Allstate forever. Cheapest rates in Aurora, CO.
Joey Barnett
Is a custom audio system covered by insurance?
Millicent Buckley
I compared a lot of rate quotes for a 2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD in Grand Forks, ND. Ended up at right around $110 every six months with Auto-Owners. Insured with Eastwood before. Hardly afford to drive anymore.
Marta Holman
Will GEICO raise rates if I file a claim?