Cutting costs on car insurance is difficult for beginners to comparing rates online. Drivers have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a big hassle to find the best price.
It’s smart to take a look at other company’s rates before your policy renews since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest price on Outback coverage a couple years back the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you’re about to find out one of the easiest ways to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.
Companies don’t necessarily list every available discount very well, so we took the time to find some of the more common as well as the least known ways to save on insurance.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.
To see a list of insurance companies who offer insurance discounts, click here.
When buying coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Every insured’s situation is different.
Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if you could use an agent’s help.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form.
Having a good grasp of a insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
This coverage provides protection from other drivers 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.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for things like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a deer, theft and hail damage. The maximum payout a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability
Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to other people or property in an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability can pay for claims like pain and suffering, medical services and bail bonds. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but buy as much as you can afford.
Collision protection
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Outback caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things like backing into a parked car, crashing into a building, rolling your car and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Insurance for medical payments
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for things like doctor visits, surgery and ambulance fees. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Consumers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, delays in paying claims, not issuing a premium refund and even unfair underwriting practices. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new insurance coverage company can be easy and end up saving you some money.
Cheap 2009 Subaru Outback insurance can be sourced both online as well as from independent agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers don’t offer online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
As you prepare to switch companies, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your strategy should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
More detailed insurance coverage information can be found at these sites: