Want cheaper auto insurance rates for your Buick Lucerne? Nobody I know enjoys paying for auto insurance, especially when their premiums are through the roof.
Because you have many companies to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to pick the best car insurance company.
The purpose of this post is to familiarize you with how to get online quotes and some money-saving tips. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to save some money using these tips. But drivers do need to understand the way insurance companies price insurance differently and use this information to your advantage.
Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining your insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better insurance rates.
Listed below are some of the items companies use to determine your rates.
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but companies offer discounts that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will automatically apply when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about before you will receive the discount.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount will bring down the cost of coverage.
A partial list of companies that may offer these benefits are:
It’s a good idea to ask every prospective company how you can save money. All car insurance discounts might not apply everywhere.
State Farm, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads in print and on television. All the companies have a common claim about savings after switching to them. How do they all claim to save you money?
All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as between 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has excellent credit. A customer who matches those parameters will get very good rates and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.
Consumers who don’t qualify for these standards will be charged a higher premium which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings.
That is why it is so important to get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which company will have the lowest Buick Lucerne insurance rates.
When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether you might need professional guidance.
If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Understanding the coverages of your policy helps when choosing the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on the average insurance policy.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This gives you protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Buick Lucerne.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.
Medical expense insurance
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for expenses for funeral costs, chiropractic care, doctor visits, hospital visits and ambulance fees. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like damage from getting keyed, hail damage and fire damage. The maximum payout your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Collision coverage protection
Collision coverage covers damage to your Lucerne resulting from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things like colliding with a tree, backing into a parked car and hitting a mailbox. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Liability auto insurance
Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. It does not 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 limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Occasionally you may see a combined single limit or CSL which limits claims to one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage protects against things such as court costs, pain and suffering, medical expenses, bail bonds and legal defense fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but buy as much as you can afford.
Low-cost 2008 Buick Lucerne insurance is possible from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers do not provide online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s very important that you do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.
More detailed insurance coverage information can be found at these sites: