Did a good deal turn into high-priced insurance? You’re in good company because you’re not alone.
Many insurers compete for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates and uncover the absolute best rate
It’s smart to compare premium rates every six months because insurance prices are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Even if you got the lowest price on Sierra coverage a year ago other companies may now be cheaper. There is a lot of bad advice regarding insurance on the internet, but in just a couple of minutes you can learn some tested techniques to slash your insurance rates.
When shopping for auto insurance there are multiple ways of comparing rates from many available auto insurance companies in your state. The easiest way to do a complete rate comparison is to jump online and get quotes. This can be accomplished in a couple minutes as outlined below.
The simplest way to get the best comparison quotes would be an industry-wide quote request form (click to open form in new window). This method keeps you from doing separate quote forms for every auto insurance company. One form submission gets you coverage quotes from auto insurance companies with the best prices.
A more difficult way to analyze rates consists of going to the website for each individual company and repeat the quote process. For example, let’s say you want to compare prices for Allstate, 21st Century and Farmers. You would be required to go to each individual site to enter the same coverage data repeatedly, which can take a lot of time.
To view a list of companies in your area, click here.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just be certain you are entering the same quote information for each price quote. If you compare different data it will be very difficult to determine which rate is truly the best. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits can result in a big premium difference. Keep in mind that more quotes helps locate the best rates.
Buying insurance coverage is not cheap, but there are discounts available that you may not even know about. Most are applied at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.
Don’t be shocked that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, you’re out of luck.
To see providers that provide some of the discounts listed above, click this link.
An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the factors that are used to determine the price you pay for insurance coverage. If you know what determines base rates, this allows you to make good choices that may reward you with lower rates.
The items below are some of the most rate-impacting factors companies use to determine prices.
When it comes to buying the best insurance coverage, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Every situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions might point out if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area.
Companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the ads seem to make the promise that drivers will save a bundle if you get a free insurance quote and switch your policy. How do they all say the same thing?
Different companies have specific guidelines for the type of customer they prefer to insure. For instance, a profitable customer may need to be between the ages of 40 and 55, has a clear driving record, and insures a new vehicle. Any person who meets those qualifications gets the lowest prices and therefore will save a lot of money.
Potential customers who don’t meet these standards will probably have to pay a higher premium and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “customers who switch” not “everyone who quotes” save money. That is how insurance companies can make those claims. That is why you need to compare rate quotes every year. It is impossible to predict which company will have the best prices.
Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on most insurance policies.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as theft, damage from a tornado or hurricane and a broken windshield. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
UM/UIM Coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your GMC Sierra 1500.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.
Medical costs insurance – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for expenses for things like doctor visits, X-ray expenses and funeral costs. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Liability car insurance – Liability coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see liability limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as emergency aid, medical services, attorney fees and medical expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but buy as large an amount as possible.
Collision coverage – This pays for damage to your Sierra 1500 from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against things like sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a ditch, colliding with a tree and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
The cheapest 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 insurance is possible on the web as well as from independent agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who don’t offer price quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies work with independent agencies.
In this article, we covered many tips how you can lower your 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 insurance premium rates. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your prices. You may even discover the lowest premium rates are with an unexpected company. Some small companies can often provide lower prices in certain areas compared to the large companies like State Farm or Progressive.