Are you sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul to buy car insurance? You’re in the same situation as many other drivers.
Because there are so many auto insurance companies to choose from, it can be diffult for consumers to find the most affordable insurer.
Finding affordable coverage is not that difficult. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Nevertheless, consumers must know the way insurance companies price online insurance and use this information to your advantage.
The quickest way to compare policy rates is to understand car insurance companies have advanced systems to give you rate quotes. The one thing you need to do is provide information such as an estimate of your credit level, the type of vehicles you drive, if the car is leased, and how much coverage you want. The data is submitted instantly to insurance companies and they return rate quotes almost instantly.
To check rates for your 2007 Volvo S40, click here and enter your zip code.
Companies offering auto insurance don’t list all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the more common and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.
Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
To see a list of companies offering insurance coverage discounts, click this link.
When choosing adequate coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.
Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are the normal coverages found on the average insurance policy.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This coverage provides protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Volvo S40.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for expenses like doctor visits, funeral costs, X-ray expenses, ambulance fees and prosthetic devices. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Comprehensive insurance – This pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like damage from a tornado or hurricane, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from getting keyed. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Collision coverages – Collision insurance covers damage to your S40 resulting from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against things such as hitting a mailbox, hitting a parking meter and backing into a parked car. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Liability car insurance – Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for 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 limits of 50/100/50 which means a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $50,000.
Liability can pay for things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, loss of income, bail bonds, repair costs for stationary objects and funeral expenses. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but you should buy higher limits if possible.