Comparing auto insurance rates online can be a challenge if you’ve never compared online quoting. But don’t be discouraged because using the internet to shop for auto insurance is actually quite easy.
It’s important to get comparison quotes occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates fluctuate regularly. Even if you got the lowest price for Regal coverage a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the right way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.
The quickest way to get policy rate comparisons is to know most of the larger companies actually pay money for the chance to give you rate quotes. The one thing you need to do is spend a couple of minutes providing details like if you require a SR-22, how your vehicles are used, an estimate of your credit level, and how many miles driven. Those rating factors gets transmitted to all major companies and they return quotes instantly to find the best rate.
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts to cut the cost considerably. Some trigger automatically when you purchase, but less common discounts must be asked about before being credited.
It’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But any discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.
A partial list of companies that may have these money-saving discounts are:
Before buying, ask every prospective company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts may not apply in your state.
When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s needs are different.
Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.
Knowing the specifics of your policy helps when choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Med pay and PIP coverage pay for immediate expenses for things like pain medications, chiropractic care, nursing services, hospital visits and X-ray expenses. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
This gives you protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
This protects you from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability insurance covers claims like bail bonds, pain and suffering, repair costs for stationary objects and structural damage. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against claims like crashing into a building, hitting a mailbox, scraping a guard rail and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
This will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things such as a broken windshield, damage from a tornado or hurricane and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.