Feel like you’re a prisoner to an underperforming, overpriced insurance policy? Trust us, there are many consumers feeling the pinch from expensive insurance. You have multiple car insurance companies to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it makes it harder to compare rates and cut insurance costs.
Most major insurance companies quote pricing on their websites. Getting online rates is pretty painless as you simply enter your personal and coverage information into a form. Behind the scenes, the company’s rating system requests your credit score and driving record and returns pricing information. This makes comparing rates easy, but the process of having to visit many different websites and type in the same information is repetitive and time-consuming. But it is imperative to get many rate quotes in order to find a better rate.
The easiest way to compare auto insurance pricing utilizes a single form that analyzes rates from several different companies. The form is fast, eliminates repetitive work, and makes quoting online much easier. After sending the form, your coverage is rated and you are able to buy your choice of the price quotes you receive. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, it’s easy to complete the application and buy the new coverage. It can be completed in a matter of minutes and may result in a nice savings.
To save time and find out what other companies charge, click here to open in a new tab and enter your vehicle and coverage information. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended that you enter the insurance coverages identical to your current policy. This guarantees you are getting comparison quotes using the same coverage and limits.
Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining insurance coverage rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.
Listed below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate rates.
Companies offering auto insurance don’t always publicize every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched both the well known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.
A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, insurance companies aren’t that generous.
A partial list of companies that may have these money-saving discounts are:
It’s a good idea to ask each insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Discounts might not apply in every state.
When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if your situation would benefit from professional advice.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Having a good grasp of a insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are typical coverage types available from insurance companies.
Collision coverages – This covers damage to your Integra 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 insurance covers things like backing into a parked car, driving through your garage door, colliding with a tree, hitting a mailbox and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Insurance for medical payments – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for expenses such as nursing services, pain medications, ambulance fees, EMT expenses and chiropractic care. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like falling objects, damage from getting keyed and hail damage. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Liability insurance – This protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people. It protects you against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for things such as loss of income, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, medical expenses and pain and suffering. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but buy higher limits if possible.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut collision coverage only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.
You just learned a lot of ways to compare 1993 Acura Integra insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the best prices are with a small mutual company. These companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than their larger competitors like State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
Low-cost insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not provide online quoting and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.
More detailed insurance information can be read at these sites: