No one likes having to buy auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much.
Because you have many different company options, it can be impossible to pick the right company.
Smart consumers take time to shop coverage around once or twice a year because rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. If you had the best price on Juke insurance a year ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the proper way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.
Finding the cheapest auto insurance is quite easy. Just about anyone who is required by state law to have auto insurance will most likely be able to cut their insurance bill. Although consumers must understand the way companies sell online and apply this information to your search.
Performing a rate comparison can take hours if you don’t know the fastest way to get free quotes. You can spend your afternoon talking to insurance companies in your area, or you can utilize online quoting to quickly compare rates.
The majority of car insurance companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and every company then returns a price quote based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms for each company you want a rate for.
To enter your information into the quoting system, click here to open in new window.
One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is you are unable to specify which insurance companies you want to price. So if you prefer to pick specific insurance companies to compare rates, we have a listing of low cost insurance coverage companies in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles for each comparison quote. If you have unequal deductibles or liability limits you can’t possibly decipher which rate is best. Just a small difference in coverage limits can make a big difference in price. Just keep in mind that comparing more company’s prices will enable you to find a lower rate.
When buying coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions could help you determine if you will benefit from professional help.
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Having a good grasp of your policy helps when choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are typical coverage types found on most auto insurance policies.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Nissan Juke.
Due to the fact that many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Most of the time your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like hitting a bird, rock chips in glass, hail damage, a broken windshield and fire damage. The maximum amount your auto insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Collision coverage protection
This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Juke from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers things such as crashing into a ditch, sustaining damage from a pot hole and sideswiping another vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for immediate expenses like ambulance fees, X-ray expenses, dental work and pain medications. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Auto liability
Liability coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. It protects you against other people’s claims. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see policy limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability insurance covers claims such as medical services, repair costs for stationary objects and pain and suffering. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as much as you can afford.