High-priced insurance coverage can bleed your personal savings, especially in this economy.
There is such a variety of car insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s a good thing to have a selection, it can be more challenging to adequately compare rates.
It is always a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates at least once a year because insurance rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest premium rates for MKT coverage two years ago you can probably find a better price now. You can find a lot of wrong information about insurance coverage online, but you can learn some excellent ideas to buy insurance coverage cheaper.
The best way we recommend to compare rate quotes is to take advantage of the fact most of the bigger providers allow for online access to compare rate quotes. To start a quote, the only thing you need to do is provide a small amount of information including if your license is active, how much school you completed, types of safety features, and your occupation. Those rating factors is instantly provided to insurance companies and they provide comparison quotes quickly.
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you may find discounts to cut the cost considerably. Some discounts will apply at quote time, but less common discounts must be manually applied before being credited.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, that’s just not realistic.
A partial list of companies that may include many of the previously listed discounts include:
It’s a good idea to ask all companies you are considering the best way to save money. Savings might not be offered in every state.
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions can aid in determining if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
When buying insurance it’s important to understand the rating factors that help determine your policy premiums. If you know what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that could help you find better insurance rates.
Having a good grasp of car insurance helps when choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverage types available from car insurance companies.
Coverage for medical expenses – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for bills such as X-ray expenses, ambulance fees and dental work. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Lincoln MKT.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea. Normally these limits are set the same as your liablity limits.
Collision coverage – Collision coverage covers damage to your MKT caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims like rolling your car, sustaining damage from a pot hole, crashing into a ditch and scraping a guard rail. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
Liability coverage – This protects you from damage or injury you incur to other people or property. It protects YOU against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/25 which means a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage protects against things like bail bonds, funeral expenses, pain and suffering and structural damage. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but you should buy higher limits if possible.
Comprehensive car insurance – Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as hitting a bird, falling objects, a broken windshield, theft and hail damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Some insurance companies may not offer online quoting and these smaller companies provide coverage only through independent insurance agencies. Budget-friendly insurance coverage is attainable both online and from local agencies, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection.
When searching for cheap car insurance quotes, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, an insured dropped collision coverage only to discover later that it was a big error on their part. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest cost.
For more information, link through to the following helpful articles:
Sal Fernandez
I’m from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Don’t remember every company but I ended up saving about $40 each month. Switched homeowners coverage too.
Camille Weeks
Affordable car insurance is a myth. Went with Progressive for my MKT and saved around $250 a year. It’s still not cheap enough.
Andy Gibbs
I found pretty cheap rate quotes for a 2010 Lincoln MKT in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Ended up at darn near $420 every six months with AIG Insurance. Wish I didn’t have to insure at all.
Renate Adkins
State Farm quoted the best rates in New Jersey.
Tommy Bird
I’m in the south part of Worcester, MA. I got free quotes from Amica, MetLife, and a few others for my MKT and I’m now saving $63 a month.
Melba Kerr
I’ve had GEICO for years. I’m in Concord, New Hampshire.
Su Sweet
If you have a good history and live in the vicinity of Jackson, MS, check out Progressive. I saved quite a bit. Are quotes cheaper online?
Ngan Knapp
If you have a clean record and live near Lewiston, Maine, check out Allstate. They seem to be cheaper. I think they have home insurance too.