Feel like you’re a prisoner to an overpriced insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you you’re not alone.
Popular companies such as GEICO, 21st Century and Progressive continually hit you with ad campaigns and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the corporate glitz and find the best price available.
If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using this strategy. Buying car insurance is not that difficult. But drivers can benefit by having an understanding of the methods companies use to determine prices.
Companies don’t list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.
It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you could get a free car insurance policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
A partial list of companies who might offer some of the above discounts include:
It’s a good idea to ask each insurance company what discounts are available to you. All car insurance discounts may not apply in your state.
It’s important that you understand some of the elements that come into play when calculating the price you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions could help you determine whether you would benefit from professional advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to 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.
Having a good grasp of a auto insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverage types offered by auto insurance companies.
Liability
This will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects YOU against claims from other people. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as medical expenses, bail bonds and pain and suffering. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as much as you can afford.
Collision coverage protection
Collision coverage pays for damage to your Ram Pickup 3500 caused by collision with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against things such as colliding with another moving vehicle, backing into a parked car and colliding with a tree. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as hitting a bird, a broken windshield, rock chips in glass, falling objects and fire damage. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for expenses such as chiropractic care, dental work, pain medications, funeral costs and hospital visits. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Dodge Ram Pickup 3500.
Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Cost effective 1994 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 insurance is possible both online in addition to many insurance agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.
Throughout this article, we presented many ideas to shop for insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from a lesser-known regional company. These companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than their larger competitors like Allstate or State Farm.
More information is available at the links below