Wish you could get a refund on overpriced car insurance? It’s quite common and you’re not alone. Big-name insurance companies like GEICO, Progressive and Allstate increase brand awareness with ads and it can be hard to separate fact from fiction and find the best price available.
Consumers need to check car insurance prices before your next renewal since rates trend upward over time. Even if you got the lowest premium rates on Lumina Minivan insurance last year you can probably find a better price now. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the quickest way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.
Finding a better price on car insurance isn’t really that difficult. You just need to take a few minutes to compare free auto insurance quotes online from several insurance companies. It’s really simple and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.
You can use whichever method you prefer to find lower rates, just be certain you are entering equivalent coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If you enter differing limits it will be very difficult to determine the best price for your Chevy Lumina Minivan.
Consumers can’t avoid all the ads that claim the cheapest rates by GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to advertise the message that drivers will save a bundle if you switch your car insurance coverage to their company.
How is it possible that every company can save you money? This is how they do it.
Most companies have specific guidelines for a prospective insured they prefer to insure. For example, a preferred risk might be a married female, has had continuous coverage, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured that matches those criteria is entitled to the best price and therefore will save a lot of money.
Insureds who are not a match for those criteria must pay higher premiums and this can result in business not being written. The ad wording is “customers who switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings.
That is why you need to compare free auto insurance quotes often. It’s just not possible to know which company will have the lowest rates.
Companies offering auto insurance don’t always publicize every disount available in a way that’s easy to find, so the next list breaks down a few of the more well known and the more hidden credits available to lower your premiums when you buy auto insurance online.
Policy discounts save money, but many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, nobody gets a free ride. But all discounts should help lower your overall bill.
A list of insurance coverage companies and some of their more popular discounts are detailed below.
When getting a coverage quote, ask every insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. All car insurance discounts might not be available to policyholders in every state. To choose providers who offer discounts, click this link.
When choosing coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can aid in determining if your situation would benefit from professional advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
Learning about specific coverages of a insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are typical coverage types offered by insurance companies.
Coverage for medical expenses
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for expenses such as chiropractic care, surgery, ambulance fees, pain medications and rehabilitation expenses. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Comprehensive insurance
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like a broken windshield, hitting a bird and rock chips in glass. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Chevy Lumina Minivan.
Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Liability coverages
This provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others. It does not cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for things like medical expenses, repair costs for stationary objects and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
Collision insurance
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage pays for things such as damaging your car on a curb, crashing into a ditch, backing into a parked car, colliding with another moving vehicle and hitting a parking meter. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Budget-friendly car insurance is available both online as well as from independent agents, so you need to shop auto insurance with both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies do not offer online quoting and usually these small, regional companies prefer to sell through local independent agents.
While you’re price shopping online, don’t be tempted to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, someone sacrificed collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at the best possible price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Additional detailed information can be read in the articles below: