If you’ve never shopped for auto insurance online, it’s easy to be confused by the sheer number of companies offering insurance.
It’s smart to compare prices before your policy renews since insurance rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Even if you think you had the lowest rates on Escalade insurance a year ago you can probably find a better price now. So block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you one of the best ways to save on auto insurance.
The purpose of this article is to let you in on how car insurance quotes work. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. But drivers must know how companies market on the web.
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you may find discounts to help offset the cost. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before they will apply.
Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will reduce the amount you have to pay.
Insurance companies that possibly offer some of the above discounts are:
Before buying, ask each company how you can save money. Discounts might not be offered in your state.
There are several ways to compare quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The quickest method to find the cheapest 2014 Cadillac Escalade insurance rates involves getting comparison quotes online. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in several different ways.
The single most time-saving way consumers can analyze rates is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This method prevents you from having to do separate quotes for each company. Filling out one form gets rate comparisons instantly. It’s definitely the quickest method.
A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes consists of going to the website of each company to request a price quote. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you want to compare State Farm, Liberty Mutual and Progressive. To get each rate you have to visit each site and enter your policy data, and that’s why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.
It’s up to you which method you use, but ensure you’re using exactly the same coverage limits on every quote. If each company quotes higher or lower deductibles it’s impossible to determine which rate is truly the best. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparison shopping, getting more free quotes will enable you to find a lower rate.
When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Every situation is different.
For example, these questions may help you determine whether you would benefit from professional advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form.
Knowing the specifics of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
This coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Normally these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive auto coverage
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things such as a broken windshield, vandalism and damage from getting keyed. The maximum amount your auto insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for expenses for nursing services, chiropractic care, X-ray expenses, EMT expenses and surgery. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Liability insurance
This provides protection from damage that occurs to other people or property in an accident. It protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t 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 liability limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability coverage pays for things like medical expenses, medical services, funeral expenses and emergency aid. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
Collision coverage protection
Collision insurance pays for damage to your Escalade caused by collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers claims such as crashing into a building, sustaining damage from a pot hole and hitting a mailbox. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. You can also bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
You just learned a lot of information how to shop for 2014 Cadillac Escalade insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even find the lowest premiums are with a small mutual company.
Drivers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, delays in paying claims and extreme rates for teen drivers. No matter why you want to switch, switching companies can be easier than you think.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
Much more information about insurance coverage can be found at the links below