Sick and tired of sacrificing to pay high car insurance rates every month? You’re in the same situation as many other consumers. Because there are so many options when it comes to car insurance, it is hard for the average consumer to find the cheapest insurer.
You need to compare prices before your policy renews because car insurance rates tend to go up over time. Just because you found the lowest rate on Edge coverage a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the easiest way to reduce your cost while improving coverage.
There are multiple methods you can shop for insurance but one way is more efficient than others. You could waste time talking to insurance companies in your area, or you can stay home and use online quoting to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.
Most of the best insurance companies take part in a program where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company then gives them pricing based on the submitted data. This system prevents you from having to do quote forms for each company. To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here (opens in new window).
The only drawback to using this type of form is you don’t know exactly which companies you want pricing from. If you wish to select individual companies to receive pricing from, we have a listing of companies who write insurance in your area. Click to view list.
Whichever method you choose, ensure you’re using nearly identical deductibles and coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you compare different deductibles it will be nearly impossible to determine the best price for your Ford Edge.
Insurance is not inexpensive, but there could be significant discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for before being credited.
Please keep in mind that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, that’s just not realistic.
Insurance companies who may offer these benefits possibly include:
When getting free insurance coverage quotes, it’s a good idea to every insurance company which discounts they offer. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not apply in your area. To see a list of providers that offer the discounts shown above, follow this link.
When it comes to buying adequate coverage, there is no cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and may give you better protection.
An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine your policy premiums. If you know what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this enables you to make decisions that can help you get cheaper rates. Many factors are part of the equation when you get a price on insurance. A few of the factors are predictable such as your driving history, but some are not as apparent like your continuous coverage or how financially stable you are.
Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price insurance coverage by Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. They all make an identical promise that drivers can save some big amount just by switching to their company.
How does each company charge lower premium rates? Just pay attention to how they say it.
Different companies offer their best rates for a prospective insured that will not have excessive claims. For instance, this type of driver may need to be between the ages of 30 and 45, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Anyone that meets those criteria may get the lowest car insurance rates and as a result will probably save when switching.
Insureds who don’t meet this stringent profile will get higher premium rates and ends up with the prospect going elsewhere. If you listen closely, the ads state “drivers who switch” not “all people who quote” save the amount stated. This is how insurance companies can make claims that they all have the best rates. This really drives home the point why you need to get insurance coverage quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which insurance coverage company will have the lowest rates.
Understanding the coverages of insurance helps when choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on the average insurance policy.
Collision insurance
Collision insurance pays for damage to your Edge resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims such as crashing into a ditch, driving through your garage door and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like fire damage, hitting a deer and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
UM/UIM Coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Ford Edge.
Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Liability auto insurance
This coverage protects you from damage that occurs to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 100/300/100 which means a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for claims like pain and suffering, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and medical services. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
Medical costs insurance
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for immediate expenses such as funeral costs, surgery and X-ray expenses. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
As you shop your coverage around, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice full coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the lowest possible cost while still protecting your assets.
More affordable insurance coverage is attainable both online and from local insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance coverage companies don’t offer price quotes online and usually these smaller providers only sell coverage through independent agents.
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