Are you sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other drivers.
Insurance companies such as Allstate and Progressive continually bombard you with fancy advertisements and it can be hard to see through the deception and do the work needed to find the best deal.
If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. Finding affordable coverage is quite easy. Nevertheless, drivers do need to know the methods companies use to market on the web and take advantage of how the system works.
The best way to get rate comparisons takes advantage of the fact most of the bigger providers participate in online systems to give you rate quotes. The one thing you need to do is provide the companies a bit of rating information including deductibles desired, how old drivers are, whether you are single or married, and your credit rating estimate. That rating data is submitted instantly to many different companies and they return rate quotes with very little delay.
Auto insurance companies don’t always list all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down both the well known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky.
To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts, click this link.
When choosing the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions might point out whether your personal situation might need an agent’s assistance.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Knowing the specifics of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. These are typical coverages offered by insurance companies.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Chrysler Town and Country.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Collision coverage protection
Collision coverage covers damage to your Town and Country caused by collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against things like sideswiping another vehicle, damaging your car on a curb and rolling your car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as fire damage, vandalism, hail damage, rock chips in glass and theft. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Coverage for liability
This coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see values of 50/100/50 that means you have a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability insurance covers things such as medical services, repair costs for stationary objects, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, emergency aid and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for expenses like dental work, funeral costs and doctor visits. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage