Buying the cheapest car insurance on the web may be overwhelming for beginners to shopping for insurance online. With such a large choice of companies competing online, how are people expected to have a chance to compare every car insurance company to find the lowest rates?
It’s important to shop coverage around quite often because prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best price for Navigator coverage two years ago there may be better deals available now. There are a lot of ways to save on car insurance online, but we’re going to give you some of the best ways to buy car insurance cheaper.
Pricing the cheapest coverage is easy if you know what you’re doing. In a nutshell, anyone who is shopping for insurance coverage stands a good chance to be able to cut their insurance bill. Although drivers do need to understand how companies compete online and use this information to your advantage.
When buying auto insurance it’s important to understand the rating factors that aid in calculating your policy premiums. If you understand what influences your rates, this allows you to make good choices that could result in lower rates.
The factors shown below are some of the major factors that factor into your prices.
Comparing auto insurance rates is a ton of work if you don’t utilize the best way to get rate quotes. You could spend your day driving to local insurance agents in your area, or you can utilize the internet for quick rates.
Many companies take part in a program that allows shoppers to complete one form, and each company can provide price quotes based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions for every auto insurance company. To compare rates using this form now click to open in new window.
The only downside to getting quotes like this is you are unable to specify the companies you want pricing from. If you prefer to choose individual companies to compare prices, we have assembled a list of companies who write auto insurance in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.
The approach you take is up to you, just do your best to enter apples-to-apples coverage data with every price quote. If your comparisons have mixed coverages you can’t possibly get a fair rate comparison. Slightly different coverages may result in large price differences. Just keep in mind that comparing a wide range of rates will improve the odds of getting the best offered rates.
Big name companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use television, radio, and online ads. All the companies try to convey promises about savings if you just switch your auto insurance coverage to their company. How is it possible that every company can lower your premium rates? This is how they do it.
Insurance providers quote their best rates for the type of driver that will not have excessive claims. For example, a profitable insured might be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. A propective insured that matches those criteria gets the lowest prices and will cut their rates substantially.
People who do not match the requirements will have to pay a more expensive rate and this results in the customer buying from a different company. The wording the ads use say “customers who switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. That’s the way companies can lure you into getting a quote.
This illustrates why it’s extremely important to compare many company’s prices. It’s impossible to know which auto insurance company will have the lowest premium rates for your situation.
Car insurance is neither fun to buy or cheap, but you may qualify for discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Many discounts should be triggered when you purchase, but a few must be inquired about prior to receiving the credit. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you could be getting lower rates.
As a sidenote, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Even though the math looks like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you aren’t that lucky.
A list of car insurance companies and their possible discounts include:
When comparing rates, check with every company which discounts they offer. Some discounts listed above might not be available to policyholders in your area. To choose providers that offer the discounts shown above, click here.
When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique.
These are some specific questions could help you determine if your situation might need professional guidance.
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.
Knowing the specifics of car insurance can help you determine the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Car insurance terms can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Comprehensive protection
This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as theft, a broken windshield, vandalism and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Medical expense coverage
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for bills for things like surgery, nursing services, chiropractic care and rehabilitation expenses. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Normally these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Collision coverage protection
This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Navigator caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims such as driving through your garage door, damaging your car on a curb and scraping a guard rail. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Liability car insurance
Liability insurance protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. It protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability insurance covers claims like attorney fees, medical expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.
Drivers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, lack of trust in their agent, poor customer service or delays in paying claims. Whatever your reason, finding the right insurance coverage provider can be easy and end up saving you some money.
Lower-priced insurance coverage is available online and from local insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. Some companies don’t offer rate quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies work with local independent agencies.
When searching for inexpensive insurance quotes, never buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where someone dropped liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
Rashida Wilkins
I think I’m paying too much. Live in the western part of Shreveport, LA. Can’t remember who all I quoted but I ended up saving about $60 each month. Left Auto-Owners to switch. Good savings if you bundle.
Marvel Sears
Good site, thanks. I’m in Newark, NJ. Quoted quotes with AAA, Safeco, and some smaller one I can’t remember the name of for my Lincoln and saved $347 a year. Was with Sentry. A clean driving record helps. Online quotes are the way to go.
Jaquelyn Weeks
Cheaper car insurance is a myth. I live in Overland Park, KS. I quoted with GEICO, American Family, and some I forget for my Navigator and am saving around $250 a year. Left Hanover to switch. You can get a rate quote online.
Marina Roman
Does State Farm have good customer service?
Ettie Juarez
From a town just southwest of Burlington, VT. I got free rates from AAA, Erie, and Sentry for my Lincoln and saved $435 a year. Left GMAC to switch. Just go online and compare their rates.
Tyrone Chavez
GEICO has the cheapest rates in Alabama. No comparison.
Napoleon Cross
Just my two cents. From northwest of Lewiston, ME. I compared lots of rates. Saved right around $30 a month. 21st Century was the cheapest option for me.
Madie Ewing
Lots of good stuff here. Live in Phoenix, AZ. Quoted quotes from Allstate, The General, and Eastwood for my 2016 Lincoln Navigator and I’m now saving $62 a month. I have a couple other vehicles on the policy. Not sure if rates are cheaper online or through an agent.
Nichelle Joseph
All companies are crooks. I live east of Baltimore, MD. Quoted quotes from Progressive, Erie, and Hanover for my Lincoln and I think I cut my rates about $30 each month. I have kids on my policy, too. I quoted rates online then called them.
Earline Gross
Proud to be from North Charleston, SC. Compared rates from a lot of places. Saved darn near $60 a month. Allstate was the best choice for me. I get lower rates because of my clean driving record.
Jule Foreman
Not sure if this is cheap. From a town just southwest of Aurora, IL. I got free quotes from Auto-Owners, Mercury, and some smaller one I can’t remember the name of for my Navigator and saved $452 a year.
Cecily Booth
I found pretty cheap rate quotes for a 2016 Lincoln Navigator in Knoxville, TN. Ended up at darn near $140 every six months with Auto-Owners. I have a teen driver too. Just go online and compare their rates.
Ginette Hurst
Thanks for putting this site together. I live just to the south of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Got rates from AAA, Encompass, and Nationwide for my Lincoln and saved around $200 a year. I think they have home insurance too.
Berna Jimenez
From Paterson, NJ. Received quotes with USAA, Amica, The General, and MetLife for my Navigator and I think I cut my rates about $50 each month. I get a discount for insuring multiple vehicles.