No one in their right mind likes having to buy auto insurance, in particular when the cost is too high.
Online insurance companies like State Farm, Farmers Insurance, GEICO and Allstate increase brand awareness with ad campaigns and consumers find it hard to see past the geckos and flying pigs and do the work needed to find the best deal.
Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.
The method we recommend to get policy rate comparisons is to know auto insurance companies allow for online access to give free rates quotes. The only thing you need to do is spend a couple of minutes providing details including if you require a SR-22, if you have an active license, the type of vehicles you drive, and your education level. Your information is instantly provided to multiple insurance coverage providers and they respond with quotes with very little delay.
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts to help offset the cost. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be manually applied in order for you to get them.
It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But any discount will bring down your premiums.
A partial list of companies that may offer these benefits include:
Before buying, ask each company how you can save money. Some discounts may not apply everywhere.
When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether you will benefit from professional help.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Learning about specific coverages of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are the usual coverages offered by auto insurance companies.
Liability
This coverage can cover damage that occurs to other people or property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see values of 100/300/100 which means a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Another option is a combined limit which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability insurance covers things like repair costs for stationary objects, medical services, pain and suffering, attorney fees and court costs. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but buy as large an amount as possible.
Coverage for medical payments
Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for expenses for things like nursing services, funeral costs, doctor visits, EMT expenses and ambulance fees. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
This coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your 2013 Dodge Journey.
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 should not be overlooked. Normally these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Collision coverage protection
Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Journey caused by collision 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 coverage protects against claims such as crashing into a ditch, hitting a parking meter, crashing into a building, sideswiping another vehicle and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Comprehensive coverages
Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers things such as rock chips in glass, damage from a tornado or hurricane, theft, hail damage and hitting a bird. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don’t be tempted to reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.
Cheaper 2013 Dodge Journey insurance can be purchased online and also from your neighborhood agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.
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