Compare 2010 Kia Optima Insurance Quotes

Trying to come up with a payment for expensive insurance coverage can stress out your accounts, especially in this economy. There are many auto insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and although it’s a good thing to have a selection, more choices can make it harder to locate the cheapest rates.

Insurance premium influencing factors

Many different elements are taken into consideration when quoting car insurance. Most are fairly basic like your driving record, but other factors are not as apparent such as your credit history or how safe your car is.Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the factors that are used to determine your policy premiums. If you understand what impacts premium levels, this allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower insurance coverage prices.

• How your age affects costs – Beginning drivers are statistically shown to be more careless when behind the wheel so they pay higher insurance coverage rates. Parents adding a teenage driver to your insurance coverage policy can be quite pricey. Older, more experienced drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents .
• A insurance coverage lapse can increase rates – Not maintaining insurance is not a good idea and you may have a hard time finding new coverage because you let your insurance lapse. And not only will insurance be more expensive, being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a license revocation or jail time. You may need to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with your state DMV.
• Your spouse saves you money – Getting married actually saves money on your insurance coverage bill. Having a spouse usually means you are less irresponsible and statistics prove married drivers tend to have fewer serious accidents.
• Cautious drivers pay less – Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Even a single moving violation can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who have gotten severe violations like reckless driving or DUI may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state in order to prevent their license from being revoked.
• Women pay lower rates – Statistics demonstrate women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don’t assume that women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men have accidents at a similar rate, but the male of the species have accidents that have higher claims. In addition to higher claims, males also get more serious tickets like driving under the influence (DUI).
• Policy add-ons may be wasting money – Insurance policies have a lot of additional extra coverages that can waste your money on your insurance coverage policy. Insurance for things like roadside assistance, towing coverage, and additional equipment coverage may not be needed and are just wasting money. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but your needs may have changed so consider taking them off your policy.
• Put fewer miles on your vehicle – The more you drive your Kia in a year the more you will pay for insurance coverage. A lot of companies calculate prices based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars not used for work or commuting receive better premium rates compared to those used for work or business. An incorrectly rated Optima may be costing you higher rates. It’s a good idea to make sure your insurance coverage policy reflects the right rating data.

Drivers can save with with these discounts

Some providers don’t always publicize the entire discount list in an easy-to-find place, so the list below contains a few of the more well known in addition to some of the lesser obvious discounts you could be receiving when you buy insurance online.

• College Student – Older children who are enrolled in higher education away from home and do not take a car to college could get you a discount.
• Savings for New Vehicles – Buying insurance coverage on a new vehicle may earn a small discount because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Discount for Good Grades – This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
• Defensive Driver Discounts – Completing a class that teaches safe driver techniques could earn you a small percentage discount if you qualify.
• Discounts for Responsible Drivers – Accident-free drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates on Optima insurance than their less cautious counterparts.
• Seat Belts Save – Forcing all vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts can save a little off the PIP or medical payment premium.
• Discount for Home Ownership – Owning a home can earn you a little savings because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Factory options such as air bags or motorized seat belts may get savings of up to 25% or more.
• No Charge for an Accident – Not really a discount, but a handful of insurance companies will let one accident slide without raising rates if you have no claims prior to being involved in the accident.
• Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government could qualify for a slight premium decrease on Optima insurance but check with your company.

A quick disclaimer, some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you’re out of luck.

A few popular companies and a selection of discounts include:

• Geico may offer discounts for good student, membership and employees, five-year accident-free, multi-policy, emergency military deployment, and anti-theft.
• MetLife may have discounts that include good driver, good student, accident-free, multi-policy, claim-free, and defensive driver.
• State Farm discounts include good student, anti-theft, good driver, Steer Clear safe driver discount, Drive Safe & Save, driver’s education, and passive restraint.
• Progressive may include discounts for multi-policy, multi-vehicle, online quote discount, good student, online signing, and continuous coverage.
• Mercury Insurance offers discounts including annual mileage, location of vehicle, professional/association, good driver, accident-free, and low natural disaster claims.
• 21st Century has discounts for 55 and older, teen driver, early bird, good student, and defensive driver.
• Allstate includes discounts for 55 and retired, utility vehicle, passive restraint, eSmart discount, senior citizen, and anti-lock brakes.

When getting a coverage quote, ask every company which discounts can lower your rates. Some credits might not be offered in your state. If you would like to choose from a list of providers offering car insurance discounts, click here.

Advertising myths

Drivers can’t get away from all the ads for the lowest price insurance coverage by companies like Allstate, Geico and Progressive. All the companies make an identical promise that people will save if you just switch your insurance coverage policy to them.

How does each company give you a better price? It’s all in how they say it.

All companies require specific criteria for a prospective insured that will be a good risk. For instance, this type of risk profile may need to be between the ages of 30 and 50, owns their home, and the vehicle is rated for pleasure use. Any person who matches those parameters will probably get the lowest prices and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.

People who fall outside those criteria will be quoted higher premiums which translates to the customer buying from a different company. The trick is to say “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why companies can truthfully make those statements.

Different companies use different criteria so drivers must compare price quotes frequently. Because you never know which insurance companies will have the lowest rate quotes.

Your situation helps dictate your coverage

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions might help in determining whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?
• What is roadside assistance coverage?
• What is UM/UIM insurance?
• Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
• Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
• How can I force my company to pay a claim?
• Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
• Am I missing any policy discounts?

If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Auto insurance coverage considerations

Knowing the specifics of auto insurance can be of help when determining which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the usual coverages found on most auto insurance policies.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills like pain medications, nursing services, funeral costs and EMT expenses. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover all vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto collision coverage

This covers damage to your Optima from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers claims like crashing into a building, crashing into a ditch, backing into a parked car and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Liability insurance

This coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property that is your fault. It protects you against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which means a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage pays for claims like repair costs for stationary objects, pain and suffering and medical expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Comprehensive auto coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like a broken windshield, hitting a deer, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and vandalism. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your 2010 Kia Optima.

Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Normally the UM/UIM limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Money doesn’t grow on trees

When you buy insurance online, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced collision coverage only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.

Budget-friendly insurance is possible both online in addition to many insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers may not have rate quotes online and these regional carriers only sell coverage through independent agents.

Throughout this article, we presented quite a bit of information on how to lower your 2010 Kia Optima insurance prices. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the biggest savings come from a small local company. Some small companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like Allstate and Progressive.

Additional insurance information is located on the following sites:

• Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
• Air Bags: Potential Dangers to Your Children (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Insuring a Leased Car (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Top Signs Your Brakes are Giving Out (State Farm)
• Understanding Rental Car Insurance (Insurance Information Insitute)