No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for insurance, especially when their premiums are through the roof.
Multiple car insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurance companies and get the definite best rate
It is always a good idea to compare prices occasionally because insurance rates fluctuate regularly. Just because you found the best price on Focus coverage a year ago you can probably find a better price now. So just ignore everything you know about insurance because you’re going to learn how to use online quotes to find better rates and still maintain coverage.
Companies don’t always publicize all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the more common and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using.
It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
A partial list of companies that possibly offer these money-saving discounts include:
It’s a good idea to ask each company how you can save money. Savings might not apply in your area.
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that come into play when calculating insurance coverage rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.
The list below includes some of the factors companies use to determine your rates.
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.
Companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the ads have a common claim of big savings if you switch your coverage to them. How can each company make the same claim?
All companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer they prefer to insure. For example, a preferred risk might be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.
Potential insureds who don’t qualify for these standards will be charged higher rates and this can result in business not being written. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s why companies can make those claims. That is why you absolutely need to get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which company will give you the biggest savings on Ford Focus insurance.
Understanding the coverages of insurance helps when choosing the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are the normal coverages found on most insurance policies.
Liability auto insurance
This will cover damage that occurs to people or other property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for things like funeral expenses, structural damage, pain and suffering and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers 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 insurance covers things like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, theft, hitting a bird, hitting a deer and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Collision insurance
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for things such as backing into a parked car, hitting a mailbox and driving through your garage door. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for expenses for things like nursing services, rehabilitation expenses and funeral costs. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
The cheapest 2000 Ford Focus insurance is definitely available online as well as from independent agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance coverage companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.
When buying insurance coverage, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, an insured dropped physical damage coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.
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