Did you come to the realization that you have high-priced insurance? It’s a common feeling and there are a lot of people just like you who feel imprisoned by their insurance policy. Companies like Progressive, State Farm and Geico constantly bombard you with advertising and it can be hard to not get sucked in by the cute commercials and do the work needed to find the best deal.
If you have insurance now or are just looking to switch companies, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates and still get good coverage. Finding the best rates is quite easy. Vehicle owners just need to know the tricks to compare rates on the web.
The most recommended method to compare policy rates is to know the fact car insurance companies have advanced systems to give you rate quotes. To begin a comparison, all you need to do is take a few minutes to give details including how much you drive, your credit rating estimate, what you do for a living, and if a SR-22 is needed. Those rating factors gets transmitted to insurance companies and you get price estimates very quickly.
Car insurance companies don’t always advertise all disounts very well, so the following list contains both well-publicized and the harder-to-find insurance coverage savings.
As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. Despite the fact that it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck.
A few popular companies and the discounts they provide are:
Double check with all companies you are considering which discounts you qualify for. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply to policyholders in your area. If you would like to view insurers that provide some of the discounts listed above, click here.
When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation might need professional guidance.
If you can’t answer 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 or click here for a list of insurance coverage companies in your area. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
Understanding the coverages of a car insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverage types offered by car insurance companies.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, a broken windshield and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
UM/UIM Coverage – This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Lexus GS 430.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Medical costs insurance – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for bills for things like X-ray expenses, pain medications and prosthetic devices. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability coverages – Liability insurance will cover damage that occurs to a person or their property by causing an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 100/300/100 which stand for a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as bail bonds, loss of income, repair costs for stationary objects and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but consider buying as much as you can afford.
Collision – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against things such as crashing into a building, driving through your garage door, crashing into a ditch and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Hallie Olsen
Affordable car insurance is a myth. Checking in from Jacksonville, FL. Not sure of all the companies but I ended up saving about $40 each month. Was with Hartford. LOL
Lakeisha Hayden
I’ve bought from 21st Century forever. Cheapest rates in Boston, MA.
Odessa Pace
Hope my rates come down. Checking in from Bellevue, Nebraska. Quoted prices from State Farm, AIG Insurance, and some I forget for my Lexus and am saving around $390 a year. Was with State Farm. Even increased my liability limits. Can still barely afford it.
Eneida Hodges
Will Allstate raise rates if I file a claim?
Laurice Bradley
I chose to switch to Allstate from American Family. I live in Mesa, AZ. Left State Farm to switch. Not sure if rates are cheaper online or through an agent.
Merlin Knowles
Does Progressive insure teenage drivers?
Alanna Patrick
If you have a clean record and live near Tulsa, Oklahoma, check out 21st Century. You might get cheaper rates. Switched homeowners coverage too. It never hurts to quote around.
Lakendra Haley
I’m in the north part of Raleigh, NC. I got free quotes from MetLife, Eastwood, 21st Century, and AAA for my GS 430 and I think I saved around $60 each month. Hardly afford to drive anymore.
Curtis Waters
If you have a good history and live around Owensboro, KY, check out Allstate. I saved quite a bit.
Sonia Holden
Will Allstate raise rates for a rock chip claim?
Mozelle Blake
I went with 21st Century at renewal. Best rates in Boise, Idaho. Thankfully I have a good driving record. I used their online quote form to compare rates.