If you’ve never shopped for auto insurance online, it’s easy to be confused because of the huge number of online companies all offering big savings.
The purpose of this post is to tell you the most effective way to quote insurance and some tips to save money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these tips. But car owners can benefit from knowing how the larger insurance companies market insurance on the web and apply this information to your search.
All the larger car insurance companies provide coverage prices on their websites. This process is fairly straightforward as you just type in the amount of coverage you want into the quote form. After you complete the form, the system obtains credit information and your driving record and returns pricing information based on many factors.
This streamlines rate comparisons, but having to visit a lot of sites and complete many quote forms is monotonous and tiresome. But it is imperative to have as many quotes as possible if you are searching for a lower rate.
The preferred way to find better car insurance pricing uses one form that gets price quotes from many companies. It’s a real time-saver, reduces the work, and makes online quotes much more enjoyable and efficient. Once the form is submitted, it is rated and you can select any or none of the pricing results.
If the quotes result in lower rates, it’s easy to complete the application and purchase the new policy. This process takes 15 minutes at the most and may save quite a bit of money.
To find out how much you’re overpaying now, click here to open in new window and input your coverage information. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you duplicate your coverages as shown on your current policy. Doing this guarantees you will get a price comparison for exact coverage.
Car insurance can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Some trigger automatically when you complete an application, but a few need to be asked for before being credited.
It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.
Car insurance companies who might offer these money-saving discounts may include but are not limited to:
Check with all companies you are considering how you can save money. All car insurance discounts may not apply everywhere.
When it comes to choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different.
These are some specific questions might point out if your situation will benefit from professional help.
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
Understanding the coverages of your policy can help you determine the best coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for immediate expenses for things like pain medications, EMT expenses and chiropractic care. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property in an accident. It protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability insurance covers things such as repair costs for stationary objects, structural damage, emergency aid, loss of income and medical expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
This will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as damage from getting keyed, damage from flooding, rock chips in glass and vandalism. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a 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 can pay for things like sideswiping another vehicle, backing into a parked car, hitting a mailbox, colliding with a tree and rolling your car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.