Saving money on car insurance can be difficult for people who are new to buying insurance online. Consumers have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a real challenge to compare prices.
The best way to compare car insurance rates takes advantage of the fact auto insurance companies allow for online access to provide you with free rate quotes. The only thing you need to do is provide a small amount of information like marital status, how much you drive, your general credit rating, and driver details. The data is sent automatically to many of the top insurers and they return cost estimate instantly.
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you may find discounts to cut the cost considerably. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied before you will receive the discount.
A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky. But all discounts will cut the cost of coverage.
Car insurance companies that may offer these benefits are:
Before buying, ask all companies you are considering what discounts are available to you. Some discounts might not be offered everywhere.
When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique.
These are some specific questions may help you determine whether or not you may require specific advice.
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form.
Understanding the coverages of a car insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Collision protection
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as hitting a parking meter, rolling your car and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your 1999 Chevy Metro.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits are set the same as your liablity limits.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like theft, hail damage and falling objects. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability car insurance
This coverage provides protection from damage that occurs to people or other property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see values of 25/50/25 that means you have a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage protects against things like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, medical expenses, structural damage, loss of income and funeral expenses. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but buy as large an amount as possible.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for expenses for things like surgery, prosthetic devices, pain medications and hospital visits. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage