Are you tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul to make your insurance payment? You have the same problem as the majority of other consumers.
Because you have many different company options, it can be challenging to find a more affordable insurance provider.
Choosing the best insurance company for you is not rocket science. Just about every driver who shops for car insurance stands a good chance to be able to lower their premiums. But drivers do need to know how companies compete online and take advantage of how the system works.
Some providers don’t always publicize every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of a few of the more well known as well as some of the hidden ways to save on car insurance. If you are not receiving all the discounts possible, you are throwing money away.
As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way.
A partial list of companies that may offer policyholders some of the discounts shown above include:
When comparing rates, check with every prospective company to give you their best rates. Some discounts may not apply in your state. If you would like to choose from a list of insurance companies that have a full spectrum of discounts, follow this link.
When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions could help you determine whether or not you might need professional guidance.
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Car insurance terms can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are the usual coverages found on the average car insurance policy.
Medical costs insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for expenses for things like prosthetic devices, ambulance fees, hospital visits, pain medications and X-ray expenses. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover both the driver and occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
UM/UIM Coverage
This protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Kia Sportage.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, rock chips in glass, damage from flooding and falling objects. The highest amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Collision insurance
This coverage covers damage to your Sportage resulting from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as damaging your car on a curb, backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle, sustaining damage from a pot hole and crashing into a building. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Liability auto insurance
Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects you from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 25/50/25 which means a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability coverage pays for things such as loss of income, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and legal defense fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
Budget-conscious 2008 Kia Sportage insurance is available from both online companies as well as from independent agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies do not provide internet price quotes and many times these small insurance companies provide coverage only through independent agents.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. The goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate.
Even more information can be read by following these links: