2009 MINI Cooper Insurance Cost – 5 Tricks for Cheaper Prices

Do you think you bought an overpriced insurance coverage policy? You’re preaching to the choir because you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse.

Due to the fact that there are so many different company options, it’s nearly impossible to choose the best insurance company.

You should take the time to do price comparisons as often as possible due to the fact that insurance prices are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Just because you had the lowest rates on Cooper coverage six months ago there may be better deals available now. There is a lot of bad information regarding insurance coverage out there, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn a lot of great tips on how to find cheap insurance coverage.

Low cost car insurance prices

The are a couple different ways to compare rate quotes from car insurance companies in your area. One of the best ways to comparison shop involves getting comparison quotes online. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

  1. The fastest and easiest way to get quotes for comparison is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This quick form saves time by eliminating boring form submissions to each individual car insurance company. A single form gets rate comparisons from many national carriers.
  2. Another way to analyze rates requires a visit to each individual company website and repeat the quote process. For sake of this example, let’s say you want comparison quotes from USAA, Progressive and State Farm. You would need to go to each individual site to enter the same coverage data repeatedly, which can take a lot of time.

    For a list of links to insurance companies in your area, click here.

Compare rates however you want, just make darn sure you compare the same quote data on every quote. If you use mixed coverages it will be very difficult to make a fair comparison for your MINI Cooper. Just slight variations in coverage limits can make a big difference in price. And when comparison shopping, getting more free quotes increases your odds of finding better pricing.

Insurance coverage advertisements

Big name companies like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with television, radio, and online ads. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save after switching your policy. It sounds good, but how can they all charge less that you’re paying now? This is the trick they use.

Different companies quote the lowest rates for the right customer that will most likely be profitable. An example of a desirable insured might have to be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has great credit. Any person who matches those parameters may get the lowest premium rates and have a good chance to save some money.

People who don’t measure up to these criteria must pay a higher premium and ends up with business going elsewhere. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “drivers that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. That is how companies can advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why drivers should get insurance quotes as often as possible. It is just not possible to predict which insurance coverage company will provide you with the cheapest premium rates.

Lower rates by qualifying for these five discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there are discounts available that you may not even know about. A few discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but some discounts are required to be specifically requested before you will receive the discount.

  • Telematics Data Discounts – Drivers who elect to allow driving data collection to analyze driving patterns by installing a telematics device such as Progressive’s Snapshot and State Farm’s In-Drive could see a rate decrease if their driving habits are good.
  • Homeowners Pay Less – Owning your own home or condo can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
  • Senior Discount – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens are able to get better insurance rates on Cooper coverage.
  • Safety Course Discount – Taking a safe driver course could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Accident Free – Insureds with no claims or accidents get the best insurance rates as compared to drivers with a long claim history.

Don’t be shocked that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, insurance companies aren’t that generous.

A few of the larger companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts can be found below.

  • State Farm offers discounts for safe vehicle, student away at school, anti-theft, Drive Safe & Save, Steer Clear safe driver discount, passive restraint, and good student.
  • Progressive offers discounts including online signing, online quote discount, multi-policy, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and good student.
  • Travelers has discounts for home ownership, continuous insurance, student away at school, multi-policy, payment discounts, and save driver.
  • American Family offers premium reductions for bundled insurance, Steer into Savings, early bird, defensive driver, and air bags.
  • Liberty Mutual discounts include newly married, new vehicle discount, multi-policy, hybrid vehicle, and teen driver discount.

If you need the cheapest insurance quotes, ask every company which discounts can lower your rates. Some discounts listed above may not apply to policies in every state.

Insurance is unique, just like you

When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions can help discover if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
  • Do I need higher collision deductibles?
  • How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Why do I need rental car insurance?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Coverage specifics

Understanding the coverages of insurance can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. These are the normal coverages available from insurance companies.

Auto collision coverage

Collision coverage pays for damage to your Cooper resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for things such as scraping a guard rail, crashing into a building, hitting a parking meter, sideswiping another vehicle and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like damage from flooding, a broken windshield, fire damage and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The highest amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills such as dental work, rehabilitation expenses, X-ray expenses and doctor visits. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Coverage for liability

This coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/50 which means a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability can pay for things like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, pain and suffering, repair costs for stationary objects and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but buy as much as you can afford.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

This provides protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your MINI Cooper.

Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Shop. Compare. Save.

Some insurance coverage companies may not have price quotes online small insurance companies work with independent agents. Lower-priced insurance coverage is available both online and from local agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are too many instances where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

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