Drivers new to comparing insurance coverage rates online can find buying affordable insurance to be a formidable task.
It’s a good idea to get comparison quotes before your next renewal because prices change quite often. Just because you found the best rates for ES 250 insurance a year ago other companies may now be cheaper. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the fastest and easiest way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.
Finding the best rates is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to save some money using this information. But consumers must know how the larger insurance companies price insurance differently and use this information to your advantage.
When comparison shopping, there are several ways to compare prices from many car insurance companies in your state. The best way to find the cheapest 1991 Lexus ES 250 insurance rates is to jump online and get quotes. This is quite simple and can be completed in a couple of different ways.
If you are pressed for time, the simplest way to find the lowest comparison rates is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This form prevents you from having to do boring form submissions for each price estimate. One simple form will return quotes from multiple low-cost companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
A less efficient way to get comparison quotes requires a visit to each company website to complete a price quote. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you are doing a rate comparison from Progressive, 21st Century and American Family. You would be required to go to each individual site and enter your policy data, and that’s why the first method is more popular.
To view a list of companies in your area, click here.
The approach you take is up to you, just double check that you are using the exact same coverages and limits for each quote you get. If you compare mixed coverages you can’t possibly determine which rate is truly the best. Quoting even small variations in coverages could skew the results. And when comparison shopping, comparing more company’s prices will improve the odds of getting lower pricing.
Some companies don’t always publicize the complete list of policy discounts very well, so the following is a list of some of the best known in addition to some of the lesser obvious credits available to lower your premiums when you buy insurance online.
One last thing about discounts, many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will lower the cost of your policy.
Companies and some of their more popular discounts are:
Before buying, ask each insurance company which discounts they offer. All car insurance discounts might not be available to policyholders in your area. For a list of insurance coverage companies that offer discounts, click here.
When choosing proper insurance coverage, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different.
Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.
Having a good grasp of insurance aids in choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Collision insurance
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for things such as colliding with another moving vehicle, backing into a parked car, hitting a parking meter, crashing into a ditch and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Medical costs insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for expenses like prosthetic devices, ambulance fees, hospital visits, chiropractic care and doctor visits. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover both the driver and occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
UM/UIM Coverage
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like fire damage, hitting a deer, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and hitting a bird. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Coverage for liability
Liability coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have liability limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability coverage pays for claims like loss of income, legal defense fees and emergency aid. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford.