Locating cheap insurance may at first seem to be impossible for people not familiar with online price comparisons. Because there are so many insurers to choose from, how can you effectively compare every company to locate lower insurance premiums?
There are multiple methods to compare insurance coverage prices but one way is more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon talking about coverages with local insurance agents in your area, or you could use online quoting to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
The majority of car insurance companies belong to a marketplace that allows shoppers to complete one form, and every company provides a quote determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions for every insurance coverage company.
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The one downside to doing it this way is you cannot specify which carriers to get pricing from. If you wish to select specific providers to receive pricing from, we have a page of insurance coverage companies in your area. Click here to view list.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just be sure you’re using the same coverages on every quote. If you use unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be very difficult to determine which company has the best rates. Just slight variations in limits may result in a large different in cost. And when price shopping your coverage, obtaining a wide range of quotes increases your odds of finding lower pricing. Some smaller insurers to not give online rate quotes, so you should also compare quotes on coverage from those companies, too.
Insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm seem to constantly run ads on television and other media. All the ads have a common claim that you’ll save big if you get a free car insurance quote and switch your coverage. How does every company save you money? This is the way they can do it.
Insurance providers quote the lowest rates for the type of insured that earns them a profit. One example of a profitable insured should be over age 30, has few claims, and insures a new vehicle. A driver that fits those parameters is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.
Potential insureds who are not a match for the requirements may be required to pay higher premiums which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The trick companies use is to say “people that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That’s the way companies can state the savings. This illustrates why drivers should compare rate quotes every year. It’s just too difficult to predict with any certainty which company will be your best fit.
Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for insurance coverage. If you know what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make good choices that may reward you with lower premium levels.
The following are just a few of the factors used by insurance companies to determine rates.
Some providers don’t necessarily list all available discounts very clearly, so we researched a few of the more common and also the lesser-known discounts that you may qualify for.
One last thing about discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck.
A few popular companies and some of the discounts are included below.
Check with all companies you are considering which discounts you qualify for. All car insurance discounts may not apply to policies everywhere. If you would like to choose from a list of insurers who offer free insurance coverage quotes, click here to view.
When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Every insured’s situation is different.
These are some specific questions might help in determining whether or not you may require specific advice.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
Knowing the specifics of your insurance policy can help you determine appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like vandalism, damage from flooding, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, a broken windshield and hitting a deer. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Sierra 1500 Classic resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as crashing into a building, scraping a guard rail, sustaining damage from a pot hole and colliding with another moving vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Liability coverage
Liability insurance can cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits of 50/100/50 which stand for a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as funeral expenses, attorney fees, structural damage, bail bonds and legal defense fees. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses like hospital visits, doctor visits, nursing services, surgery and ambulance fees. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover you and your occupants and will also cover 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
There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and many times these smaller providers only sell through independent agents. Cheaper insurance coverage can be found online as well as from independent agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture.
As you prepare to switch companies, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
You just read a lot of ways to lower your 2007 GMC Sierra 1500 Classic insurance premium rates. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get prices for, the better likelihood of getting cheaper car insurance. Drivers may discover the biggest savings come from a small local company.
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