Lower Your 2013 FIAT 500 Insurance Rates

Buying the cheapest car insurance online might appear difficult for drivers new to buying their car insurance on the internet. Since there are so many online companies available, how are we expected to even start to compare all the different companies and get the best available rates?

How to buy auto insurance online

Most major insurance companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm provide prices for coverage on their websites. Comparing rates online can be done by anyone because it’s just a matter of typing in your coverage information into the form. When complete, the company’s rating system pulls reports for credit and driving violations and quotes a price based on these factors.

Online quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but the work required to visit several different sites and fill out multiple forms can be a bit repetitive. But it’s necessary to have as many quotes as possible if you want to get the lowest auto insurance rates.

The preferred way to lower your rates uses one form that analyzes rates from many companies. This type of form saves time, reduces the work, and makes quoting online a lot less work. After your information is entered, it gets priced and you are able to buy any or none of the quotes returned.

If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can click and sign and buy the policy. It takes just a few minutes to complete and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

In order to find out what other companies charge, simply click here to open in new window and input your coverage information. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you copy the insurance coverages exactly as they are listed on your policy. Doing this guarantees you will have a rate comparison based on identical coverages.

Discounts can really help to save

Buying car insurance is not cheap, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be asked for before you will receive the discount.

  • Bundle and Save – When you combine your homeowners and auto insurance and insure them both with the same insurance company they may give you a discount of as much as 10 to 15 percent.
  • Sign Online – Some of the larger companies may give you up to $50 for completing your application online.
  • ABS Braking Discount – Cars and trucks with ABS and/or traction control are much safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Distant Student Discount – Children who live away from home at college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Safe Driver Discounts – Insureds who avoid accidents can save up to 40% or more on their car insurance quote on 500 insurance than their less cautious counterparts.
  • Club Memberships – Affiliation with a professional or civic organization could trigger savings on your next renewal.
  • Discounts for Government Workers – Federal government employees could qualify for a slight premium decrease on 500 insurance depending on your company.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Maintaining low annual mileage can earn slightly better premium rates than normal.
  • Theft Deterent Discount – Cars optioned with advanced anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10% off your car insurance quote.

One last thing about discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Even though the math looks like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, nobody gets a free ride.

Auto insurance companies who may offer some of the discounts shown above include:

It’s a good idea to ask every prospective company the best way to save money. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered in your area. To choose insurance companies who offer discounts, follow this link.

Smart consumers can reduce their insurance costs

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the things that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When you understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this enables informed choices that could result in lower premium levels.

  • Limits of liability insurance – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance provides coverage in the event that you are ruled to be at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Your liability coverage provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. It is affordable coverage compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Teenage drivers pay higher prices – Older insureds are shown to be more cautious, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.Teenage drivers have been known to be less responsible when at the wheel of a vehicle so car insurance rates are higher.
  • Claim-free discounts can add up – If you file a lot of claims you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies provide better rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
  • Marriage can lower prices – Being married may cut your premiums on your car insurance bill. Marriage translates into being more mature than a single person and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Add-on coverages are wasting money – There are many additional extra coverages you can purchase if you don’t pay attention. Add-on coverages like rental car coverage, towing coverage, and membership fees may not be needed and are just wasting money. The coverages may be enticing when you first buy your policy, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so eliminate them to save money.
  • Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Most major companies afford a discount to buyers who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to as much as ten percent or more Even if you qualify for this discount already, you may still want to check prices from other companies to ensure the best deal.There is a good possibility that you can find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
  • Lower rates for cars with good safety ratings – Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. Safer cars reduce occupant injuries and reduced instances of injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and more competitive rates for policyholders. If your FIAT 500 has ratings of a minimum four stars on Safercar.gov it may be receiving lower rates.

Will just any policy work for me?

When buying the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different.

For instance, these questions can help discover if your situation might need professional guidance.

  • When should I remove comp and collision on my 2013 FIAT 500?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • What is the minimum liability in my state?
  • If my 2013 FIAT 500 is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • Should I buy only the required minimum liability coverage?
  • What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

Brand name doesn’t guarantee savings

Companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads in print and on television. All the companies advertise the message that drivers will save a bundle if you just switch your coverage. How do they all offer drivers better rates? This is the way they can do it.

Companies have strict underwriting profiles for the type of driver that makes them money. A good example of a profitable insured might be described as a mature driver, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer who fits that profile will most likely get cheap rates and most likely will save a lot if they switch.

People who are not a match for this ideal profile will be quoted a higher rate which leads to the prospect going elsewhere. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “customers who switch” not “everyone who quotes” save that much money. That is how companies can advertise the savings.

This really drives home the point why you absolutely need to compare many company’s premium rates. Because without a comparison, you cannot know which insurance companies will have the lowest car insurance rates for your situation.

Car insurance coverage breakdown

Having a good grasp of your policy helps when choosing the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Comprehensive coverage

This pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like vandalism, theft, hitting a deer and damage from flooding. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for expenses like surgery, pain medications, rehabilitation expenses and EMT expenses. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto liability insurance

Liability insurance can cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects you from legal claims by others. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

It consists of three 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 50/100/50 which means $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage protects against claims like attorney fees, court costs, funeral expenses, pain and suffering and bail bonds. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your 2013 FIAT 500.

Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Usually these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Collision insurance

Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for claims like crashing into a building, hitting a parking meter and backing into a parked car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Shop Smart and Save

As you quote car insurance, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best cost while still protecting your assets.

Lower-priced car insurance can be sourced from both online companies and from local insurance agents, so you need to shop car insurance with both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies don’t offer the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agents.

Consumers switch companies for many reasons like an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium, delays in responding to claim requests or even policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason, finding a new company is not as difficult as it may seem.

Even more information is available at these sites: