Being forced to pay for high-priced car insurance premiums can consume your savings account, especially in this economy.
You have so many insurers to buy insurance from, and even though it’s nice to have a choice, more choices can make it harder to compare rates and find the lowest cost car insurance.
It’s important to price shop coverage yearly because prices are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Even if you got the lowest quotes on Beetle insurance a couple years back there may be better deals available now. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you’re going to learn the fastest way to lower your annual insurance bill.
To get cheaper auto insurance quotes, there a variety of ways to get quotes from many insurance companies in your state. By far the easiest way to do a complete rate comparison consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be accomplished in a couple minutes as outlined below.
If you’re in a hurry, the quickest way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This quick form saves time by eliminating separate forms for every company. One simple form will get you rate comparisons instantly.
A slightly less efficient method to obtain and compare quotes online consists of visiting each company website and complete a new quote form. For examples sake, we’ll pretend you want to compare Liberty Mutual, Farmers and Travelers. To get each rate you have to spend time on each company’s site and punch in your information repeatedly, which is why the first method is more popular.
To view a list of companies in your area, click here.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just make sure you compare apples-to-apples quote information for each comparison quote. If each company quotes different values for each quote you will not be able to determine which rate is truly the best. Quoting even small variations in coverages may result in large price differences. Just remember that having more price comparisons helps improve the odds of finding a lower rate. Some companies don’t provide price estimates online, so it’s recommended that you also compare price quotes from the smaller companies as well.
When it comes to choosing coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions can help discover if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.
If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Having a good grasp of a car insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Car insurance terms can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. These are the usual coverages found on most car insurance policies.
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like hitting a bird, theft, damage from a tornado or hurricane, a broken windshield and damage from flooding. The highest amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
This will cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, medical services, pain and suffering, funeral expenses and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses for things like funeral costs, surgery, nursing services, dental work and pain medications. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers claims such as crashing into a ditch, hitting a mailbox, hitting a parking meter and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
This coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Volkswagen Beetle.
Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.