If shopping for car insurance quotes online is new to you, it’s easy to get baffled by the crazy number of local and online companies vying for business.
If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. The purpose of this post is to teach you how to effectively get price quotes and some tips to save money. Although car owners can benefit by having an understanding of how big insurance companies compete online and use this information to your advantage.
There are a variety of methods to shop for auto insurance, but there is one way that is more efficient than others. You can waste hours discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in your area, or you could save time and use online quotes to get prices fast.
The majority of car insurance companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to only type in their quote data once, and at least one company returns a competitive quote based on that information. This system prevents you from having to do quotation requests for each company.
To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here to open in new window.
The one disadvantage to comparing rates this way is that consumers can’t choose the companies you will receive quotes from. If you prefer to choose individual companies to compare, we have a listing of companies who write auto insurance in your area. Click to view list.
Whichever way you use, ensure you’re using exactly the same coverages and limits on every price quote you get. If you have different deductibles it will be nearly impossible to decipher which rate is best. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages or limits could skew the results. And when quoting auto insurance, remember that comparing more rates from different companies will improve the odds of getting the best rates.
Insurance coverage can be pricey, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically at the time of purchase, but a few need to be inquired about prior to getting the savings.
You can save money using discounts, but many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, insurance coverage companies aren’t that generous.
If you would like to see a list of insurers that offer some of these discounts, click here to view.
When buying adequate coverage, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.
For instance, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form.
Having a good grasp of a insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like a broken windshield, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from getting keyed, theft and damage from flooding. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Medical expense insurance – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for immediate expenses such as X-ray expenses, funeral costs, surgery, doctor visits and hospital visits. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers you and your occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – This coverage provides protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Chevy Metro.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Most of the time these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Liability insurance – Liability coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to people or other property. It protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability insurance covers claims such as attorney fees, legal defense fees, loss of income, emergency aid and funeral expenses. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.
Collision coverage – Collision coverage covers damage to your Metro from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers things like colliding with another moving vehicle, sustaining damage from a pot hole, sideswiping another vehicle and hitting a parking meter. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.