2013 BMW 3 Series Insurance Rates – 9 Tricks for Cheapest Quotes

If online car insurance comparisons are new to you, it’s easy to get overwhelmed due to the large number local agents and online companies that all promise to save you money.

It is always a good idea to get comparison quotes yearly due to the fact that insurance prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best quotes on 3 Series coverage two years ago a different company probably has better rates today. There are a lot of ways to save on car insurance online, but I’m going to show you a lot of great tips on how to lower your car insurance bill.

How to get the cheapest insurance

To get cheap auto insurance quotes, there a variety of ways to compare prices from companies that offer insurance in your state. The fastest way to find competitive 2013 BMW 3 Series insurance rates involves getting comparison quotes online. It is quite easy and can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

  1. The easiest and least time consuming way consumers can make multiple comparisons is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This quick form keeps you from doing separate quote forms for every company. One simple form gets insurance cost estimates from insurance companies with the best prices. This is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time.
  2. A different way to find more affordable insurance consists of visiting the website for each individual company and complete a new quote form. For sake of this example, let’s say you want to compare rates from Allstate, Progressive and State Farm. To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company’s site and enter your policy data, which is why first method is reommended.

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

  3. The most difficult method to get rate quotes is calling or driving to insurance agencies in your area. Buying insurance online eliminates the middleman unless you have a need for the professional advice that only a licensed agent can provide. Some companies do allow you to get the lowest quotes online but still have the advice of a local agent.

However you get your quotes, make sure you use equivalent information for each quote you get. If you are comparing different data you will not be able to truly determine the lowest rate. Just a small difference in limits may result in large price differences. It’s important to know that comparing all the rates in your area will improve the odds of getting the best offered rates.

Pay discount rates these nine discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t necessarily list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the below list has both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden savings tricks you should be using when you buy auto insurance online. If you do not check that you are getting every discount possible, you could be getting lower rates.

  • Distant Student – Kids who are enrolled in higher education away from home and won’t have access to an insured vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Telematics Data Discounts – Drivers that enable their insurance company to monitor where and when they drive by using a telematics device in their vehicle such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive may see discounts if they exhibit good driving behavior.
  • Senior Citizen Discount – Drivers over the age of 55 are able to get reduced rates on 3 Series coverage.
  • Discount for New Cars – Buying a new car model can save you some money because new vehicles are generally safer.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Being deployed in the military could qualify you for better prices.
  • Early Switch Discount – A few insurance companies offer discounts for switching companies early. You may see this discount when you get auto insurance quotes online.
  • Payment Method – If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you can avoid monthly service charges.
  • Claim-Free Discount – Drivers who don’t have accidents can earn big discounts as opposed to accident-prone drivers.
  • Driver Safety – Successfully completing a driver safety course could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.

We need to note that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though the math looks like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of providers that have a full spectrum of discounts, click here to view.

Special considerations

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s needs are different.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining if your situation would benefit from professional advice.

  • Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
  • Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Do I need more liability coverage?
  • Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • When can my company non-renew my policy?
  • What is roadside assistance coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Detailed coverages of your insurance policy

Having a good grasp of a insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers things like falling objects, a broken windshield, rock chips in glass, vandalism and theft. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Auto collision coverage

Collision coverage covers damage to your 3 Series resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage protects against things such as sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with another moving vehicle and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

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. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.

Auto liability insurance

Liability coverage provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property. It consists of 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 liability limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability can pay for things like legal defense fees, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, attorney fees and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but consider buying as much as you can afford.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses for things like X-ray expenses, prosthetic devices, dental work, surgery and funeral costs. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

A penny earned…

When buying insurance coverage, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, someone sacrificed full coverage only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

We just presented some good ideas how to shop for 2013 BMW 3 Series insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with some of the smallest insurance companies.

People who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, high rates after DUI convictions, poor customer service or even being labeled a high risk driver. No matter why you want to switch, finding a great new company is not as hard as you think.

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