View 1996 BMW 3 Series Insurance Rates

There isn’t anyone who likes paying for car insurance, particularly when they could find better prices if they shop around.

Big-name insurance companies like Allstate, Progressive and GEICO all claim big savings with TV and radio ads and consumers find it hard to see past the geckos and flying pigs and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It’s smart to check car insurance prices before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance prices fluctuate regularly. Just because you had the best price on 3 Series coverage on your last policy you may be paying too much now. You can search a lot of car insurance on the internet, but in just a couple of minutes you can learn some of the best techniques to lower your car insurance premiums.

Lower rates by qualifying for discounts

Car insurance is neither fun to buy or cheap, but companies offer discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically at the time of purchase, but some need to be manually applied before you get the savings.

  • New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy can save you some money because new model year vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle up may be able to save a few bucks on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner can save you money since owning and maintaining a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
  • Anti-theft System – Anti-theft and alarm system equipped vehicles can help prevent theft so companies will give you a small discount.
  • Discount for Low Mileage – Low mileage vehicles could qualify for lower prices due to less chance of an accident.
  • Student Discount for Driver Training – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers enroll and complete driver’s education if offered at their school.
  • Passive Restraints – Options like air bags may qualify for discounts as much as 30%.
  • Online Discount – A few larger companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.

Policy discounts save money, but most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way.

Companies who may offer these benefits include:

Before buying, ask each company or agent the best way to save money. Some credits may not apply to policyholders in your state. If you would like to choose from a list of companies that provide some of the discounts listed above, click here to view.

Affordable insurance

When comparison shopping, there are several ways to compare rate quotes from lots of insurance companies. One of the best ways to lower the rate you pay for 1996 BMW 3 Series insurance is to jump online and get quotes. It’s really quite simple and can be done in a couple minutes as outlined below.

The most efficient method to find low rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison click here to open form in new window. This style of form keeps you from doing repetitive form entry for each company. A single form gets you price quotes from several companies.

Another way to obtain and compare quotes online is to manually visit the website for each individual company and get a separate price quote. For instance, we’ll pretend you want to compare GEICO, Allstate and Liberty Mutual. To get rate quotes you would need to go to each individual site and enter your information, which is not fast way to get rate quotes. For a list of companies in your area, click here.

The method you choose is up to you, but compare the same quote information with every price quote. If you compare different coverage information then you won’t be able to make an equal comparison. Even a minor difference in limits could skew the results. Just remember that comparing more quotes helps improve the odds of finding lower pricing. Some companies don’t provide online quotes, so you need to compare quotes from those companies as well.

Why your insurance prices might be higher

The best way to find cheaper insurance coverage is to take a look at some of the elements that aid in calculating the level of your policy premiums. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make good choices that may result in better insurance coverage rates.

  • Limits of liability insurance – The liability coverage on your policy is the coverage that protects you when you are found to be at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Your liability coverage provides legal defense coverage to defend your case. This coverage is relatively inexpensive when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so drivers should make sure they buy enough to cover all assets.
  • Your spouse saves you money – Having a significant other can actually save you money on insurance coverage. Having a spouse may mean you are more financially stable and it’s proven that being married results in fewer claims.
  • Do you need those incidental coverages? – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that sound like a good idea at the time on your insurance coverage policy. Coverages for replacement cost coverage, better glass coverage, and extra equipment coverage are probably not needed. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so remove them from your policy.
  • When should you file a policy claims? – If you are a frequent claim filer, you should expect higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Companies award discounts to drivers who do not file claims often. Your car insurance is meant to be used in the event of claims that you cannot pay yourself.
  • Big city or small town – Choosing to live in areas with lower population has definite advantages when shopping for auto insurance. Fewer drivers and short commutes means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Drivers in populated areas have to deal with more auto accidents and higher rates of accident claims. Higher commute times statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money – Most larger companies give discounts for people that purchase more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, drivers will still want to get quotes from other companies to make sure you are getting the best deal.
  • Never have insurance coverage lapses – Letting your insurance expire is a sure-fire way to increase your renewal premiums. And not only will your rates increase, being ticketed for driving with no insurance may result in a fine, jail time, or a revoked license.

Insurance coverage is unique, just like you

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions can help discover whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

  • What is the minimum liability in my state?
  • Will my insurance pay for OEM parts?
  • Is motorclub coverage worth it?
  • Is my BMW 3 Series covered if I use it for business?
  • Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
  • Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
  • Where can I get insurance after a DUI in my state?
  • Am I getting all the discounts available?

If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Parts of your insurance policy

Learning about specific coverages of a insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the normal coverages offered by insurance companies.

UM/UIM Coverage

This coverage provides protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your 1996 BMW 3 Series.

Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Usually these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Liability auto insurance

This will cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property that is your fault. It protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 which means a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability can pay for things like medical services, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, attorney fees, loss of income and pain and suffering. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as damage from flooding, falling objects, rock chips in glass, theft and hail damage. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Medical costs insurance

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses for chiropractic care, funeral costs, ambulance fees and prosthetic devices. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers you and your occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Collision coverage

This covers damage to your 3 Series resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for claims like damaging your car on a curb, hitting a mailbox and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

When getting insurance quotes online, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits and learned later that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

There are still a few companies who don’t offer internet price quotes and these regional insurance providers prefer to sell through local independent agencies. Budget-conscious 1996 BMW 3 Series insurance is definitely available on the web in addition to many insurance agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis.

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