Car insurance shoppers not familiar with buying insurance online could find buying cheap insurance is more work than they anticipated.
Buying car insurance is not rocket science. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to save some money using these methods. But car owners should learn how the larger insurance companies sell online and take advantage of how the system works.
When shopping for cheap insurance quotes, there are a couple of ways to compare rate quotes from different companies. The recommended way to do a complete rate comparison is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be done in a couple of different ways.
For a list of companies in your area, click here.
It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just try to use identical quote information for every quote you compare. If your comparisons have unequal deductibles or liability limits then you won’t be able to make an equal comparison. Even a minor difference in coverage limits could skew the results. And when comparing insurance coverage rates, know that comparing a wide range of rates increases your odds of finding more affordable insurance.
Insurance providers like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. All the companies advertise claims that you’ll save big just by switching to their company. But how can every company make the same claim? You have to listen carefully.
Different companies have specific characteristics for a prospective insured that earns them the most money. An example of this type of insured might have to be a married female, owns their home, and drives a safe vehicle. Any driver who fits that profile will get a cheap rate quote and will also cut their rates substantially.
Consumers who may not quite match those criteria will see a higher rate and this results in business not being written. The trick companies use is to say “people that switch” not “all people who quote” will save that much if they switch. That is how companies can make the claims of big savings. This really illustrates why you really need to compare as many free insurance quotes as you can. It’s just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rate quotes.
Auto insurance is not an enjoyable expense, but discounts can save money and there are some available that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you complete an application, but some need to be asked for prior to getting the savings.
Discounts lower rates, but most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Despite the appearance that you could get a free auto insurance policy, you aren’t that lucky.
A few companies that may have some of the discounts shown above include:
If you need lower rates, check with each insurance company to apply every possible discount. All car insurance discounts may not be available everywhere. To locate providers that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts, follow this link.
When buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different.
For example, these questions can help discover whether you could use an agent’s help.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form.
Understanding the coverages of your policy helps when choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Honda Odyssey.
Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
This coverage pays for damage to your Odyssey resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims like driving through your garage door, damaging your car on a curb, crashing into a building 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 bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as damage from flooding, hitting a bird, a broken windshield, damage from a tornado or hurricane and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for expenses such as dental work, funeral costs, X-ray expenses and chiropractic care. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to you and your occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other people or property. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. It does not cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 100/300/100 that means you have a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for claims like attorney fees, medical expenses, repair costs for stationary objects, legal defense fees and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.
Drivers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including denial of a claim, questionable increases in premium, high rates after DUI convictions or delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new car insurance company is not as difficult as it may seem.
More affordable car insurance is possible on the web and from local agencies, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers don’t offer online rate quotes and these small, regional companies provide coverage only through independent agents.
As you quote insurance, make sure you don’t skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where someone dropped collision coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. The goal is to find the BEST coverage at the lowest possible cost, not the least amount of coverage.
Additional information can be found at the links below