Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you you’re not the only one.
Popular companies such as GEICO, Progressive and Allstate all claim big savings, bombarding you with ad campaigns and it can be hard to ignore the promise of big savings and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
It’s important to do rate comparisons on a regular basis since insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price on Rendezvous coverage two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in one of the best ways to remove unneeded coverages and save money.
Companies offering auto insurance don’t necessarily list all available discounts very clearly, so here is a list both well-publicized as well as the least known ways to save on car insurance.
Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce 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, it just doesn’t work that way.
Car insurance companies that possibly offer these money-saving discounts include:
It’s a good idea to ask each company how you can save money. All car insurance discounts might not be offered everywhere.
When buying the best insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions could help you determine if your insurance needs may require specific advice.
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Knowing the specifics of a car insurance policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Comprehensive car insurance – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hitting a deer, damage from getting keyed, a broken windshield, damage from flooding and fire damage. The highest amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability coverages – This can cover damage or injury you incur to other people or property. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 100/300/100 that means you have a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage pays for claims like bail bonds, funeral expenses, legal defense fees, structural damage and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but you should buy higher limits if possible.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your 2002 Buick Rendezvous.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Collision coverage – Collision coverage pays for damage to your Rendezvous resulting from a collision with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision can pay for things such as scraping a guard rail, damaging your car on a curb, driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Coverage for medical expenses – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses such as ambulance fees, prosthetic devices and surgery. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers you and your occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
The cheapest 2002 Buick Rendezvous insurance can be found on the web in addition to many insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online quoting and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.