I can’t think of a single person who likes having to buy insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high. Companies like Allstate, Progressive and GEICO persitently shower you with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to see past the geckos and flying pigs and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
If you are insured now or need a new policy, you can use these tips to find better prices while maintaining coverages. Finding the best rates is easy if you know what you’re doing. Drivers only need to know the most effective way to compare company rates online.
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you can get discounts to help offset the cost. Most are applied at the time of quoting, but a few need to be asked for in order for you to get them. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.
Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way. Any amount of discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.
To see a list of companies who offer insurance discounts, follow this link.
When buying adequate coverage, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help highlight whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.
Understanding the coverages of insurance aids in choosing which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the normal coverages available from insurance companies.
Liability coverages – Liability insurance will cover damage or injury you incur to other people or property that is your fault. It protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t 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 limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability insurance covers claims like attorney fees, pain and suffering and structural damage. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.
Comprehensive coverage – This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as hitting a deer, damage from flooding and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your GMC Sonoma.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Most of the time these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Medical payments coverage and PIP – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for things like dental work, prosthetic devices and X-ray expenses. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Collision – This covers damage to your Sonoma resulting from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for things like hitting a mailbox, sideswiping another vehicle and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Cost effective 2001 GMC Sonoma insurance can be found from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies do not provide online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.
When you buy insurance online, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many cases, drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price.