Searching for cheaper insurance coverage may at first seem to be rather challenging for people new to online price comparisons. With so many online companies, how can anyone have a chance to compare every company to locate cheaper insurance coverage rates?
If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Pricing affordable auto insurance can be fairly easy. But drivers benefit from understanding how companies compete online and use this information to your advantage.
A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing the factors that help calculate the price you pay for car insurance. When you understand what determines base rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower rates.
The factors shown below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.
Auto insurance companies don’t always list every discount they offer in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of some of the more common in addition to some of the lesser obvious discounts you could be receiving when you buy insurance coverage online.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it’s just not the way it works.
Some of the larger companies that possibly offer these benefits may include but are not limited to:
When getting a coverage quote, ask every insurance company which discounts you qualify for. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be available to policyholders in your area. To see companies who offer cheap car insurance quotes, click here.
When it comes to choosing coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different.
These are some specific questions could help you determine if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.
Having a good grasp of a car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses like ambulance fees, X-ray expenses, EMT expenses and funeral costs. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
This provides protection from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Maserati Quattroporte.
Because many people 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 a good idea.
This will pay to fix damage to your Quattroporte resulting from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for claims such as crashing into a ditch, rolling your car, damaging your car on a curb, driving through your garage door and backing into a parked car. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.
This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.
It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000.
Liability coverage protects against things like emergency aid, attorney fees and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as much as you can afford.
This will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hitting a deer, falling objects, rock chips in glass and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
More affordable car insurance can be bought from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these smaller companies only sell through independent agents.
Drivers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including being labeled a high risk driver, denial of a claim, not issuing a premium refund or even lack of trust in their agent. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding the right car insurance provider is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
As you quote insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.
Additional information can be found at the links below
Gracia Fuller
Lots of good stuff here. Live in the southern part of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Went online for free insurance quotes for a 2011 Maserati Quattroporte. Ended up at about $460 savings annually. Went with State Farm. Insured with Mercury before. Hardly afford to drive anymore.
Katheryn Guerrero
Enjoyed the article. Live in the southern part of Henderson, NV. Quoted quotes from 21st Century, American Family, Encompass, and Liberty Mutual for my Maserati and saved just over $570 a year.
Ernestina Jimenez
Good detail in your article. From Jacksonville, Florida. I got free quotes with State Farm, Amica, Esurance, and The General for my Maserati and I think I am saving around $60 each month. Hopefully won’t need it. :)
Edward Richards
Is GEICO cheaper than American Family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
Jeanelle Day
Good detail in your article. I’m from Norfolk, VA. I got free quotes from 21st Century, Auto-Owners, and some I forget for my 2011 Maserati Quattroporte and I’m now saving $46 a month. It never hurts to quote around.
Nelida Ward
I live on the east side of Allentown, PA. Quoted prices online for a 2011 Maserati Quattroporte. Ended up at about $340 savings annually. Went with GEICO. Insured with The General before. Get lots of quotes to find the best rate.
Bennie May
Live in Madison, Wisconsin. Got free quotes online for a 2011 Maserati Quattroporte. Ended up at about $470 savings annually. Went with Allstate. I have a couple other vehicles on the policy. They offer free online rate quotes.
Russel Sanford
Cheap car insurance? What’s that? Proud to be from Tampa, FL. I don’t recall every quote but I ended up saving about $60 each month. Insured with The General before. Have a couple speeding tickets too. I just quoted rates online.
Caleb Newton
Does 21st Century prorate premiums at cancellation?