No one in their right mind likes paying for auto insurance, particularly when they are paying too much. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Progressive and GEICO all claim big savings, bombarding you with catchy ads and it is difficult to avoid their marketing magic and do the work needed to find the best deal.
Consumers should take time to get comparison quotes on a regular basis since rates change quite often. If you had the lowest price on CR-V insurance a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. Starting right now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you how to quote online to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.
If you have a policy now or are looking for a new policy, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates while maintaining coverages. Choosing the best insurance company for you is not rocket science. Drivers only need an understanding of the most effective way to compare prices online.
Finding lower auto insurance rates can be quick and easy. The only requirement is to spend a few minutes on the computer getting comparison quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be done in a couple of different ways.
The single most time-saving way to get the best comparison quotes is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This method prevents you from having to do multiple quote forms for each company you want a rate for. A single, simple form will return quotes instantly.
A different way to get quotes online is to take the time to go to the website for each individual company to request a price quote. For examples sake, we’ll pretend you want comparison quotes from Allstate, Esurance and State Farm. To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your information, which is why most consumers use the first method. For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.
The hardest way to get comparison rates is driving to different agent offices. The internet can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you require the professional guidance of a local agent. It is possible to comparison shop your insurance online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll touch on that later.
Whichever way you use, be sure to compare identical information with each company. If you are comparing different deductibles you will not be able to determine the lowest rate for your Honda CR-V.
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Some discounts apply automatically when you complete an application, but some must be specially asked for before they will apply. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think you could get a free car insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way. But all discounts will help reduce your overall premium however.
To see a list of companies with the best car insurance discounts, click this link.
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions can aid in determining if your situation will benefit from professional help.
If you’re not sure about those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
Having a good grasp of your auto insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverage types found on the average auto insurance policy.
Collision coverage protection
This will pay to fix damage to your CR-V from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against things like colliding with a tree, driving through your garage door and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as theft, damage from flooding, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and hitting a bird. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability coverage
Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to people or other property in an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 50/100/50 which stand for a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage pays for claims like emergency aid, funeral expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage and attorney fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Most of the time these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for bills such as prosthetic devices, EMT expenses and pain medications. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage