Cheaper 2011 Kia Optima Insurance Rates

I really doubt anyone is fond of buying auto insurance, especially when their premiums are through the roof.

You have multiple insurers to buy insurance from, and although it’s nice to have a choice, so many choices can make it hard to find a good deal.

Smart consumers take time to compare premium rates quite often because auto insurance prices tend to go up over time. Just because you found the best quotes for Optima coverage a couple years back you will most likely find a better rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in how to quote online to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

Buying car insurance is not that difficult. In a nutshell, everyone who shops for car insurance will be able to lower their premiums. Although consumers must know how insurance companies price insurance differently and take advantage of how the system works.

Smart consumers can save money

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the factors that are used to determine the rates you pay for car insurance. If you have some idea of what determines premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get cheaper rates.

  • Job can influence prices – Jobs like fire fighterspolice officers and financial analysts tend to have higher rates than average in part from intense work requirements and extremely grueling work hours. On the flip side, occupations like actors, engineers and retirees generally pay rates lower than average for Optima coverage.
  • Too many claims and you’ll pay more – If you frequently file small claims, don’t be surprised to see either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies give cheaper rates to people that do not abuse their auto insurance. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for claims that pose a financial burden.
  • Lower rates by increasing coverage deductibles – Physical damage protection, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your Kia. A few examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, and burglary. Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles define the amount you are required to spend if a claim is determined to be covered. The larger the amount you have to pay, the lower your rates will be for Optima coverage.
  • Gals tend to take less risk – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, don’t assume that women are BETTER drivers than men. Females and males are responsible for accidents at about the same rate, but the males cause more damage. In addition to higher claims, males also receive more major tickets like DWI (DUI) or reckless driving. Teenage male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and thus pay the highest rates.
  • Pay more if you have a long commute – Having an address in a rural area has definite advantages when shopping for auto insurance. Residents of big cities have to deal with much more traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer drivers on the road means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate.

Discounts for cheaper auto insurance rates

Buying auto insurance is not cheap, but you might find some hidden discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Certain credits will be shown when you get a quote, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied in order for you to get them.

  • Early Switch Discount – Select larger companies give a discount for buying a new policy early. It could save around 10% when you buy auto insurance online.
  • Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles and place coverage with the same company you may earn up to 20% and get you affordable auto insurance.
  • ABS Brakes – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Own a Home – Simply owning a home can earn you a little savings because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
  • Low Miles Discount – Fewer annual miles on your Kia can earn cheaper prices.
  • College Student Discount – Kids who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus may be insured at a cheaper rate.
  • Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Buying a policy with all your vehicles on a single policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • E-sign – Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy on their website.
  • Active Military Service – Having a deployed family member could mean lower prices.

Please keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.

For a list of insurers that provide some of the discounts listed above, click this link.

Tailor your insurance coverage to you

When choosing the best insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions can aid in determining if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.

  • Should I buy only the required minimum liability coverage?
  • Is a blown tire covered by insurance?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • When can my company non-renew my policy?
  • I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
  • Which is better, split liability limits or combined limits?
  • What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
  • Is a fancy paint job covered?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area.

Insurance coverage specifics

Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find typical coverages offered by insurance companies.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance pays for damage to your Optima resulting from colliding 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 scraping a guard rail, hitting a mailbox, colliding with a tree and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Liability insurance

Liability coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property in an accident. It protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have liability limits of 25/50/25 which means a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability coverage pays for claims like attorney fees, bail bonds and structural damage. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy as much as you can afford.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for expenses such as X-ray expenses, chiropractic care and nursing services. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive coverage

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from getting keyed, hitting a bird, vandalism and falling objects. The most a insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This provides protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Kia Optima.

Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Coverage on a shoestring budget

Discount 2011 Kia Optima insurance is possible online in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should compare rates from both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not offer the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies provide coverage only through independent agencies.

We just showed you some good ideas how to reduce 2011 Kia Optima insurance premium rates online. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of getting affordable auto insurance. You may be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with the smaller companies. Regional companies can often provide lower prices in certain areas as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

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