Feeling guilty for buying high-priced insurance coverage? Say no more because you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. There are many car insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and though it is a good thing to have a choice, more choices can make it harder to adequately compare rates.
Pricing affordable protection is not that difficult. If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can use this information to find the best rates and possibly find even better coverage. Drivers just need to know the best way to get comparison quotes online.
Insurance coverage is easily one of your largest bills, but there are discounts available to help offset the cost. Many discounts should be triggered at quote time, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied prior to getting the savings. If you don’t get every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Despite the fact that it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
Some companies that may have these benefits are:
When comparing rates, check with every insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some credits might not apply in your area.
Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that aid in calculating your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what influences your rates, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to big savings.
When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help you determine whether you may require specific advice.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.
Understanding the coverages of your policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverage types found on most auto insurance policies.
Collision coverage protection
This coverage pays for damage to your Trax caused by collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers claims such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, rolling your car, damaging your car on a curb and crashing into a building. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as theft, falling objects and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for immediate expenses such as nursing services, dental work and X-ray expenses. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your 2016 Chevy Trax.
Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.
Liability coverage
Liability insurance will cover damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property that is your fault. It protects you from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 50/100/50 that means you have a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability insurance covers claims like medical services, emergency aid, loss of income and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy higher limits if possible.
Lower-priced insurance can be sourced online in addition to local insurance agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who don’t offer the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agencies.
When getting insurance quotes online, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost and still be able to protect your assets.
More detailed insurance information can be read in the articles below: