Save on 2011 Mazda 3 Insurance Quotes

Searching for lower auto insurance rates for your Mazda 3? Have you fallen victim to an expensive auto insurance policy? You’re in good company because many consumers feel financially strained by their auto insurance policy. Vehicle owners have multiple car insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, so many choices can make it hard to compare company pricing.

Smart consumers take time to do rate comparisons occasionally due to the fact that insurance prices fluctuate regularly. Just because you found the lowest rate for 3 coverage a few years ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the tricks you need to know to lower your annual insurance bill.

How to buy auto insurance online

Comparing auto insurance rates can take hours if you don’t understand the best way to get rate quotes. You can waste a few hours (or days) driving to local insurance agents in your area, or you could save time and use online quotes to quickly compare rates.

Most major companies belong to a marketplace that allows shoppers to enter their policy data once, and each company can provide price quotes based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for each company. To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

One minor caviat to using this type of form is that consumers can’t choose which insurance companies to get pricing from. If you wish to select specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we have a page of low cost auto insurance companies in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.

However you get your quotes, ensure you are comparing nearly identical coverage limits for each quote you get. If you use differing limits it will be next to impossible to decipher which rate is best.

What impacts Mazda 3 insurance costs?

Many different elements are taken into consideration when pricing auto insurance. Some are pretty understandable like a motor vehicle report, although others are more obscure such as your credit history or your vehicle rating.An important part of buying insurance is that you know a few of the rating criteria that aid in calculating the level of your policy premiums. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates, this helps enable you to make changes that may result in lower premium levels.

The list below includes some of the most rate-impacting factors companies use to determine rates.

• Frequent insurance claims increase prices – Car insurance companies generally give better rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can definitely plan on much higher rates or policy non-renewal. Auto insurance is designed for larger claims.
• Additional coverages that may be costing you – Insurance companies have many extra bells and whistles that can waste your money when buying car insurance. Coverages for replacement cost coverage, accidental death, and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but if you don’t need them get rid of them and save.
• Bundle home and auto and save – Some companies afford better rates to policyholders that buy multiple policies such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. The amount of the discounts can be five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you’re getting this discount drivers will still want to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
• Safer cars means cheaper insurance – Vehicles that have high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Vehicles engineered for safety result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates means your insurance company pays less and cheaper rates on your policy.
• Is insurance coverage cheaper for females or males? – Over the last 30 years, statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that females are better drivers. Males and females get in at-fault accidents in similar percentages, but men have accidents that have higher claims. In addition to higher claims, males also get higher numbers of serious violations such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving recklessly.

Take policy discounts and save

Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts very well, so below is a list some of the best known and also the more inconspicuous discounts that may be available.

• Waiver for an Accident – Not necessarily a discount, but certain companies permit an accident without raising rates so long as you are claim-free before the accident.
• Discount for Good Grades – Performing well in school could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
• Drivers Ed for Students – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver’s ed class in school or through a local driver safety program.
• Government Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could qualify for a slight premium decrease for 3 coverage with select insurance companies.
• Passive Restraints – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts of 25 to 30%.
• Multiple Policy Discount – If you can combine your auto and homeowners policy with the same insurance company you will save as much as 10 to 15 percent.
• Discounts for Responsible Drivers – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates for 3 coverage than drivers with accident claims.
• Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen so companies will give you a small discount.
• Distant Student – Older children who live away from home at college without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.

We need to note that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, nobody gets a free ride.

To see companies that offer discounts, click here to view.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can aid in determining whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Is motorclub coverage worth it?
• Should I bundle my homeowners policy with my auto?
• How much liability coverage do I need in my state?
• Should I buy only the required minimum liability coverage?
• Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
• Am I covered if I hit a deer?
• What can I do if my company denied a claim?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.

Insurance coverages and their meanings

Knowing the specifics of your policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the normal coverages available from insurance companies.

Liability insurance

Liability insurance can cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property that is your fault. It protects YOU against claims from other people. It does not cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 50/100/50 that means you have a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability insurance covers claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, court costs and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.

Comprehensive insurance

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like hail damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, theft and a broken windshield. The maximum payout your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Coverage for medical expenses

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for bills like EMT expenses, ambulance fees, doctor visits, hospital visits and nursing services. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers both the driver and occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Collision coverage protection

This covers damage to your 3 resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision insurance covers claims like rolling your car, hitting a parking meter and colliding with a tree. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers

Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Mazda 3.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.

Quote often and quote early

When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, an insured cut liability coverage limits and learned later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

We just covered some good ideas how to compare 2011 Mazda 3 insurance premium rates online. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the lowest premium rates come from an unexpected company. These companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive and Geico.

Additional learning opportunities

• Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• What is a Telematics Device? (Allstate)
• Protect Yourself Against Auto Theft (Insurance Information Insitute)
• How Much Auto Coverage do I Need? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Understanding Car Crashes Video (iihs.org)