Nobody looks forward to buying car insurance, particularly when the price is too high. You have multiple car insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and even though it’s nice to have a selection, it can be more challenging to adequately compare rates.
Finding the best rates is not rocket science. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Drivers only need to know the most efficient way to get comparison rates over the internet.
Auto insurance companies do not advertise every available discount very clearly, so we took the time to find both the well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.
Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way.
A partial list of companies that possibly offer these discounts may include but are not limited to:
Double check with all companies you are considering which discounts they offer. Savings might not apply everywhere.
When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining whether or not you could use an agent’s help.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.
Knowing the specifics of insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverages offered by insurance companies.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses such as nursing services, hospital visits and surgery. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers both the driver and occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Coverage for liability
Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people. This coverage protects you against claims from other people. It does not 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. As an example, you may have policy limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 bodily injury coverage, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers claims like medical services, court costs, funeral expenses and legal defense fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Honda Element.
Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.
Comprehensive coverage
This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like damage from getting keyed, damage from flooding, damage from a tornado or hurricane, theft and vandalism. The maximum payout a insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Collision protection
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things such as crashing into a building, damaging your car on a curb, sustaining damage from a pot hole, hitting a mailbox and scraping a guard rail. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
When trying to cut insurance costs, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed full coverage only to find out that it was a big error on their part. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price.
Low-cost 2004 Honda Element insurance can be bought both online and with local insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
We covered many ways to shop for insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from the least-expected company. These companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like Progressive or Geico.
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