Save on 2010 BMW 3 Series Insurance Rates

I can’t think of anyone who likes paying for car insurance, in particular when the cost is too high. Lots of car insurance companies contend for your hard-earned dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a insurance company to find the cheapest price

How to Compare Car Insurance

Finding a lower price on 2010 BMW 3 Series insurance is surprisingly easy. Just spend a little time to get quotes online with multiple companies. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

  1. The best way to get the best comparison quotes would be an industry-wide quote request form click to view form in new window. This type of form saves time by eliminating separate quotation requests to each individual car insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form will return quotes from car insurance companies with the best prices.
  2. A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes is going to each company website to request a price quote. For instance, let’s say you want to compare Allstate, Progressive and Farmers. To get rate quotes you would need to spend time on each company’s site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is more popular.

    For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.

However you get your quotes, make sure you use identical coverage limits for each price quote. If you enter mixed coverages it’s not possible to truly determine the lowest rate.

Factors that can influence BMW 3 Series insurance rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that can help you get better insurance rates.

The list below includes some of the items that factor into your rates.

  • Do you know your deductibles? – Deductibles for physical damage define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Physical damage insurance, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, covers damage that occurs to your car. Examples of covered claims would be running into the backend of another car, vandalism, or theft. The more you’re willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance for 3 Series insurance.
  • Consolidate policies to earn discounts – The majority of insurance companies provide better rates to policyholders who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even with this discount, you may still want to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
  • Your location is important – Choosing to live in less populated areas can save you money when buying insurance. Lower population means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Drivers in populated areas tend to have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Longer commute distances can result in more accidents.
  • Bad driving skills means higher rates – Just one citation can increase rates forty percent or more. Good drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
  • Small claims can cost you – If you file claims often, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance companies generally give discounts to insureds who do not file claims often. Auto insurance is intended for larger claims.
  • Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are a ton of add-on coverages that you can buy if you aren’t careful. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and membership fees are some examples. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • Discounts for married couples – Having a spouse can actually save you money when buying insurance. Having a spouse means you’re more responsible and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
  • Liability coverage protects you – Your policy’s liability coverage will protect you if you are found liable for damages from an accident. Liability provides legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.

Discounts on BMW 3 Series insurance

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always advertise all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the best known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Accident Waiver – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
  • Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to use their safety belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • Safety Course Discount – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Discount for Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
  • Paperless Signup – Some insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
  • Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Distant Student – Youth drivers living away from home attending college and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.

It’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky.

For a list of providers offering insurance discounts, click here to view.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount?
  • What happens if I owe more than my 2010 BMW 3 Series is worth?
  • Is a fancy paint job covered?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.

The coverage is in the details

Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverage types found on most car insurance policies.

Collision insurance

This coverage covers damage to your 3 Series resulting from a collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision can pay for claims such as hitting a parking meter, crashing into a ditch, crashing into a building, scraping a guard rail and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Medical costs insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills for things like hospital visits, funeral costs, chiropractic care, doctor visits and pain medications. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible

Coverage for liability

This coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property in an accident. It protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t 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 commonly see values of 100/300/100 which means a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability can pay for claims like repair costs for stationary objects, attorney fees, funeral expenses and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.

UM/UIM Coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” 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 carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like a broken windshield, vandalism, hitting a bird, damage from getting keyed and rock chips in glass. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim 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.

More comparisons equals lower rates

Affordable 2010 BMW 3 Series insurance is definitely available from both online companies as well as from independent agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies don’t offer online price quotes and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

When you buy insurance online, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced full coverage only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Much more information about insurance can be read on the following sites: