Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse.
Many car insurance companies compete for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare car insurance companies to discover the definitive lowest rate possible.
You need to take a look at other company’s rates on a regular basis due to the fact that insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates for Vibe insurance a couple years back you may be paying too much now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because we’re going to demonstrate one of the best ways to reduce your cost while improving coverage.
Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that play a part in calculating your insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be applied when you purchase, but a few need to be asked about in order for you to get them.
As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way. Any amount of discount will reduce the cost of coverage.
Companies that possibly offer these discounts include:
Double check with each company how you can save money. Discounts may not apply in your state.
When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help you determine if you would benefit from professional advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Knowing the specifics of your insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverages offered by insurance companies.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as rock chips in glass, fire damage, damage from getting keyed and falling objects. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability car insurance
This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to people or other property. It protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 which stand for a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage pays for claims like attorney fees, legal defense fees, loss of income and court costs. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
Collision coverage protection
Collision coverage covers damage to your Vibe from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims such as crashing into a building, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a mailbox and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
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.
Since a lot of 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 a good idea. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses such as doctor visits, EMT expenses and rehabilitation expenses. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Cheaper 2008 Pontiac Vibe insurance can be bought both online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.
While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out they didn’t have enough coverage. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford.
Much more information about auto insurance can be found at the links below