Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced insurance coverage policy? Believe me when I say there are many consumers feeling the pinch from expensive insurance coverage.
Many insurance companies compete for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates to get the lowest rate possible.
There are a variety of methods to compare auto insurance quotes, and some are easier and takes less work. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance companies in your area, or you can utilize the web for quick rates.
Most of the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and each participating company returns a rated price based on that data. This eliminates the need for form submissions for every auto insurance company.
To find out how much you can save on auto insurance click to open in new window.
The one downside to doing it this way is you are unable to specify which providers to get pricing from. If you wish to select individual companies to compare rates, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in your area. Click here to view list.
The method you choose is up to you, but try to use identical coverage information on every price quote you get. If you have different values for each quote it’s not possible to get a fair rate comparison. Just slight variations in coverages may result in a large different in cost. Just keep in mind that comparing more company’s prices helps increase your odds of locating the best offered rates.
When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can aid in determining if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Having a good grasp of a car insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are the normal coverages found on most car insurance policies.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for 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. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Sierra 1500 caused by collision with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for things like hitting a mailbox, driving through your garage door and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like falling objects, damage from a tornado or hurricane and damage from flooding. The highest amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Medical expense insurance
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses for rehabilitation expenses, prosthetic devices and chiropractic care. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Liability auto insurance
This protects you from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects YOU from claims by other people. It does not cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
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 which means $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and property damage coverage for $100,000.
Liability insurance covers claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, bail bonds, funeral expenses, loss of income and pain and suffering. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.