Nobody I know likes having to buy auto insurance, particularly when the cost is too high. Consumers have many insurers to pick from, and although it’s a good thing to have a choice, too many choices makes it more difficult to adequately compare rates.
Buying car insurance is not that difficult. If you have a policy now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices and still get good coverage. Drivers just need to learn the proper methods to shop their coverage around on the web.
Cutting your insurance coverage rates isn’t really that difficult. All that’s required is to invest a few minutes to compare quotes online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.
To view a list of companies in your area, click here.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just make darn sure you compare the exact same coverage information on every quote. If you enter differing limits then you won’t be able to decipher which rate is best.
Companies offering auto insurance don’t list every discount very clearly, so we researched both the well known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you’re not getting every credit available, you are throwing money away.
Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Car insurance companies that possibly offer these money-saving discounts may include but are not limited to:
It’s a good idea to ask every prospective company how you can save money. All car insurance discounts may not apply in your state.
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining whether or not you will benefit from professional help.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are the normal coverages found on most car insurance policies.
Comprehensive coverage – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, falling objects, a broken windshield, fire damage and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Collision coverage – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against things such as colliding with another moving vehicle, colliding with a tree and sideswiping another vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Chevy Cobalt.
Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Liability insurance – This will cover damage that occurs to a person or their property. This coverage protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against things like legal defense fees, medical services and funeral expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.
Medical payments coverage and PIP – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for immediate expenses like dental work, funeral costs and surgery. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage