Having to pay for overpriced insurance can drain your bank account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparison shopping is a great way to make sure you’re not throwing money away. Having so many choices, it’s nearly impossible to find the most affordable company.
Consumers need to compare prices occasionally since insurance rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Even if you think you had the lowest rates for LS 600h L coverage a year ago you can probably find a lower rate today. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding insurance on the internet, so by reading this article, you’re going to learn a lot of great tips on how to quit paying high insurance rates.
Performing a rate comparison can take time and effort if you don’t know the most efficient way. You could waste time talking to insurance companies in your area, or you could save time and use online quotes for quick rates.
Many popular insurance companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers enter their policy data once, and each participating company then gives them pricing for coverage. This eliminates the need for quote requests for each company.
To access this free quoting program, click here (opens in new window).
The only drawback to using this type of system is that you can’t choose which insurance companies you want to price. So if you prefer to pick individual companies to compare, we have a listing of companies who write insurance in your area. View list of insurance companies.
It’s up to you which method you use, but make absolute certain that you use exactly the same coverage information for each comparison quote. If you enter mixed coverages it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison.
When choosing the right insurance coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Auto insurance terms can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find the normal coverages available from auto insurance companies.
Collision coverages – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things like damaging your car on a curb, backing into a parked car, hitting a mailbox and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive insurance – This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as a broken windshield, fire damage and theft. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Auto liability – This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other people or property. 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 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage pays for claims like loss of income, funeral expenses and legal defense fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for immediate expenses such as doctor visits, X-ray expenses and pain medications. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers all vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage