Are you kicking yourself for buying an expensive insurance coverage policy? It’s a common feeling and many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out. Multiple auto insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates and get the definite best rate
Consumers need to shop coverage around at least once a year because insurance coverage prices are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you found the best deal on Equinox insurance six months ago there may be better deals available now. Block out anything you think you know about insurance coverage because you’re going to learn the fastest way to save on insurance coverage.
If you have a current insurance policy or are looking for a new policy, you will benefit by learning to reduce the price you pay while maximizing coverage. Buying car insurance is not rocket science. Vehicle owners just need to understand the best way to compare rates over the internet.
Many factors are used when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are obvious such as traffic violations, although some other factors are not quite as obvious like your vehicle usage or your commute time.A large part of saving on insurance coverage is knowing the factors that are used to determine your premiums. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels, this helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower premium levels.
There are a variety of methods to shop for car insurance, and some are easier and takes less work. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with local insurance agents in your area, or you could use the web to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
Many of the larger companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and each participating company provides a quote. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions to each individual car insurance company.
To enter your information into the quoting system, click here (opens in new window).
The single downside to using this type of system is that consumers can’t choose which companies you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose specific providers to compare rates, we have a listing of low cost car insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.
It’s up to you which method you use, but try to keep nearly identical coverage information on every quote you get. If each company quotes mixed coverages then you won’t be able to truly determine the lowest rate.
Consumers can’t get away from all the ads that claim the best rates by companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. All the ads try to convey promises about saving some big amount after switching your policy.
How is it plausible that every one can cost less than your current company? This is the way they can do it.
All the different companies offer their best rates for the type of driver that will be a good risk. For example, this type of insured might have to be a female over age 40, has never had a policy lapse, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any driver who meets those qualifications will probably get cheap prices and will most likely save money with a new company.
People who are not a match for the ideal profile will see a higher premium which results in the customer not purchasing. The wording the ads use say “people who switch” not “everyone who quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. That’s the way companies can make claims that they all have the best prices. Different companies use different criteria so drivers should compare free insurance quotes often. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest premium rates.
Some insurance providers do not list the complete list of policy discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the list below contains a few of the more common in addition to some of the lesser obvious ways to save on insurance.
Just know that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So even though you would think you could get a free insurance policy, you’re out of luck. But any discount will help lower your overall bill.
A few popular companies and their offered discounts are:
If you need cheap insurance quotes, ask every company what discounts are available to you. Savings may not be available everywhere. To find insurers that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts, follow this link.
When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can aid in determining if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and may give you better protection.
Having a good grasp of a car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find typical coverage types found on the average car insurance policy.
Medical costs insurance – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for expenses for things like pain medications, X-ray expenses, surgery and doctor visits. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision coverages – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims like scraping a guard rail, driving through your garage door, colliding with a tree and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
UM/UIM Coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, theft, falling objects, vandalism and damage from flooding. The highest amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Liability coverage – Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. It protects you against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/50 that means you have a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for claims such as bail bonds, court costs, structural damage, medical expenses and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford.
We just presented some good ideas how to get a better price on 2014 Chevy Equinox insurance. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding low cost insurance. You may even find the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In too many instances, an insured cut collision coverage to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.