Buying lower priced insurance coverage online can appear to be problematic for people who are new to comparing prices online. Since there are so many companies, how are people able to efficiently compare all the different companies and get better insurance coverage prices?
Auto insurance companies don’t always publicize every disount available in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the more common as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using when you buy auto insurance online. If you do not check that you are getting every discount possible, you are just wasting money.
One thing to note about discounts is that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, companies don’t profit that way.
A few popular companies and some of their more popular discounts are:
When getting a coverage quote, ask each insurance company which discounts you qualify for. Some discounts might not be available to policyholders in every state.
The most recommended method to compare insurance rates from multiple companies is to know the fact car insurance companies actually pay money for the chance to compare their rates. To begin a comparison, all you need to do is provide a small amount of information such as the type of vehicles you drive, if you require a SR-22, marital status, and how much you drive. Your insurance information is instantly submitted to many highly-rated insurers and they provide comparison quotes immediately.
When it comes to buying adequate coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.
For instance, these questions might help in determining whether you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.
Knowing the specifics of your insurance policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 that means you have a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for claims like medical services, loss of income and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but buy higher limits if possible.
This will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like vandalism, fire damage and falling objects. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses for dental work, funeral costs and X-ray expenses. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Collision coverage covers damage to your GT caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers things such as backing into a parked car, crashing into a building, colliding with another moving vehicle and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Drivers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, poor customer service, policy cancellation or even not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching companies can be pretty painless.
Budget-friendly insurance coverage can be found on the web and with local insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies don’t offer online price quotes and these regional carriers sell through independent insurance agents.
When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s a bad idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are many occasions where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that it was a big mistake. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.