Are you tired of wondering where the money will come from to pay auto insurance each month? You’re in the same situation as many other consumers.
Companies like GEICO, Progressive and Allstate continually bombard you with ad campaigns and it is challenging if not impossible to see through the deception and find the best price available.
The quickest method we recommend to compare car insurance company rates is to realize most of the bigger providers participate in a system to give you rate quotes. To begin a comparison, all you need to do is spend a couple of minutes providing details like whether the vehicles are used for commuting, marital status, types of safety features, and how much education you have. Your rating data is submitted instantly to many different companies and you will receive price estimates quickly.
Allstate, GEICO and Progressive endlessly run ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make the promise of big savings just by moving your coverage to them. How is it possible that every company can offer you a better deal? Just pay attention to how they say it.
All companies offer their best rates for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer should be a female over age 40, has few claims, and insures a new vehicle. Someone that hits that “sweet spot” will probably get the lowest rates and will save when switching.
Potential customers who fall short of the requirements may be required to pay a higher rate which usually ends up with the customer buying from someone else. The ad wording is “people who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” can get the lowest rates when switching. This is how companies can truthfully make those statements.
This really illustrates why you really need to compare quotes as often as possible. Because without a comparison, you cannot know which company will fit you best based on your risk profile.
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there could be significant discounts that many consumers don’t even know exist. Some trigger automatically at quote time, but some discounts are required to be requested specifically before you get the savings.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. If you do the math and it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way.
To locate companies with discount car insurance rates, click here to view.
When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverages available from insurance companies.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Collision insurance
This will pay to fix damage to your Outback resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims like damaging your car on a curb, colliding with another moving vehicle, sustaining damage from a pot hole and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like a broken windshield, rock chips in glass, falling objects, damage from getting keyed and vandalism. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Liability
Liability coverage provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to people or other property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see values of 100/300/100 which stand for a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as funeral expenses, court costs, medical expenses and legal defense fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible.
Medical expense insurance
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses such as funeral costs, chiropractic care, hospital visits and pain medications. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
As you shop your coverage around, you should never buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at the lowest possible cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
Cheaper auto insurance can be purchased from both online companies as well as from independent agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies do not offer rate quotes online and these smaller providers work with independent agents.