Do you think you bought an overpriced insurance policy? Trust us, many drivers feel the same as you.
Vehicle owners have many auto insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s nice to have multiple companies, more choices can make it harder to compare rates and find the lowest cost insurance.
It’s important to price shop coverage as often as possible because insurance prices are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Just because you found the lowest rates on RX 450h insurance a few years ago you can probably find a better premium rate now. Block out anything you think you know about insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the easiest way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.
Buying car insurance is quite easy. Just about anyone who is required by state law to have insurance coverage will be able to reduce their rates. But vehicle owners need to have an understanding of how companies determine prices and use this information to your advantage.
Effectively comparing insurance coverage prices can be challenging if you don’t utilize the fastest way to get free quotes. You could spend the better part of a day discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in your area, or you can stay home and use the web to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
Many of the larger companies take part in a program that allows shoppers to submit one quote, and each participating company returns a rated price based on that information. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions to every company.
To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click to open in new window.
One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is buyers cannot specifically choose which companies you want to price. So if you prefer to pick specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we have assembled a list of insurance coverage companies in your area. Click to view list.
Whichever way you choose to compare rates, compare equivalent coverage limits and deductibles on every quote. If each company quotes mixed coverages then you won’t be able to make a fair comparison for your Lexus RX 450h. Having just a slight variation in limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. Just remember that comparing more quotes will increase your chances of finding a lower rate. Some insurance companies are not set up to provide online rate quotes, so you should also compare rates from those companies as well.
Car insurance can be pricey, but you can get discounts that can help lower your rates. Most are applied when you complete an application, but occassionally some discounts must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.
A quick disclaimer, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Popular car insurance companies and some of the discounts are outlined below.
Check with each company or agent how many discounts you can get. A few discounts may not apply to policies in your area. To see a list of insurers with the best car insurance discounts, follow this link.
When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining whether or not you may require specific advice.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Understanding the coverages of insurance can help you determine the best coverages for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are typical coverages offered by insurance companies.
Liability car insurance – This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people by causing an accident. 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 limits of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers things such as repair costs for stationary objects, funeral expenses and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as large an amount as possible.
Comprehensive coverage – This will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like damage from flooding, fire damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and theft. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Collision coverage – Collision coverage pays for damage to your RX 450h caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for things like scraping a guard rail, crashing into a building, hitting a parking meter, colliding with another moving vehicle and hitting a mailbox. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Lexus RX 450h.
Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important.
Medical payments coverage and PIP – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses like prosthetic devices, EMT expenses, doctor visits, surgery and pain medications. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Donetta Kidd
Affordable car insurance is a myth. I’m from Gulfport, MS. Quoted quotes with Progressive, Auto-Owners, and Farmers for my Lexus and saved $312 a year. Left The General to switch. Got better coverage too. Highly recommended.
Sherri Stout
Where is cheaper car insurance? Live in the eastern part of Bangor, Maine. Compared quite a few companies. Saved about $70 a month. Allstate was the best choice for me. Was with AAA. Get lots of quotes to find the best rate.
Felecia Irwin
Nice post. Proud to be from Dover, DE. Quoted quotes from 21st Century, Eastwood, and The General for my 2018 Lexus RX 450h and saved about $390 a year. Left Amica to switch. Even increased my liability limits.