Are you irritated from robbing Peter to pay Paul to keep your car insured? You’re in the same situation as most other drivers. Drivers have many auto insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and even though it’s nice to have a choice, more options can take longer to find the lowest cost provider.
Part of the insurance buying process is learning a few of the rating criteria that come into play when calculating your policy premiums. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels, this enables informed choices that may reward you with better insurance rates.
Some companies don’t always publicize all available discounts very clearly, so the next list breaks down both the well known as well as some of the hidden credits available to lower your premiums when you buy auto insurance online.
We need to note that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Despite the fact that it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
Larger insurance coverage companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be found below.
When comparing rates, check with every company to apply every possible discount. Some discounts might not apply in every state. To see providers offering insurance coverage discounts, click here to view.
Drivers can’t escape the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. All the ads state the claim about how much you will save just by moving to their company.
How do they all sell you cheaper insurance coverage? You have to listen carefully.
Insurance companies have strict underwriting profiles for the type of customer that earns them the highest profit. For example, a profitable customer should be a mature driver, has a low-risk occupation, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who matches that profile receives the best prices and therefore will save some money.
People who fall outside these stringent criteria must pay more expensive rates which results in the prospect going elsewhere. The ads state “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much when switching. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings.
This really emphasizes why you absolutely need to get auto insurance quotes as often as possible. Because you cannot predict which auto insurance company will provide the lowest rates.
When choosing coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether you may require specific advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of insurance coverage companies in your area. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.
Learning about specific coverages of car insurance can be of help when determining the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are typical coverage types found on most car insurance policies.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – This coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – This coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, vandalism and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Insurance for medical payments – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for things like dental work, prosthetic devices, rehabilitation expenses, chiropractic care and hospital visits. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Liability coverages – This provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects YOU from claims by other people. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Another option is a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage protects against claims like loss of income, pain and suffering, legal defense fees and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but you should buy higher limits if possible.
Collision – This will pay to fix damage to your Cabrio caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers things like colliding with a tree, crashing into a ditch, colliding with another moving vehicle and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
In this article, we covered a lot of information how to compare 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio insurance auto insurance rates online. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding affordable auto insurance. You may even find the most savings is with the smaller companies. Some small companies often have lower premium rates on specific markets than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.
Some insurance companies do not provide online rate quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent insurance agencies. Cheaper car insurance is possible online and from local agencies, and you should compare rates from both to have the best selection.
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