Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me, you’re not the only one.
Having so many companies and agents to choose from, it can be hard to locate the best insurer.
Buying affordable protection is simple if you know the tricks. In a nutshell, anyone who is shopping for insurance should be able to save money. But vehicle owners need to learn how big insurance companies price online insurance and use this information to your advantage.
It’s important that you understand some of the elements that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that could result in lower auto insurance prices.
Effectively comparing insurance coverage prices can be exhausting if you aren’t aware of the easiest way. You could waste a few hours talking about coverages with insurance agencies in your area, or you can stay home and use the internet to get the quickest rates.
Many of the larger companies take part in a program that enables customers to submit one quote, and every company can give them a price based on that data. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests for every insurance coverage company.
To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here to open in new window.
The one disadvantage to doing it this way is you can’t choose which carriers to get quotes from. So if you prefer to choose specific providers to compare prices, we have a page of companies who write insurance coverage in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.
Which method you use is up to you, but double check that you are using identical coverage limits and deductibles with every price quote. If the quotes have different deductibles it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison. Just a small difference in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when quoting insurance coverage, remember that more quotes helps locate lower pricing.
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there are discounts available to help offset the cost. A few discounts will automatically apply when you get a quote, but some may not be applied and must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.
Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way. Any amount of discount will cut the cost of coverage.
To see a list of companies who offer insurance discounts, click here.
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Knowing the specifics of your insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. These are typical coverages offered by insurance companies.
Liability
This coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property in an accident. It protects you from claims by other people. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see values of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability insurance covers things such as court costs, pain and suffering and medical services. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as much as you can afford.
Comprehensive protection
This coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like theft, hail damage and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The most your insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage covers damage to your Expedition caused by collision with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers things such as sideswiping another vehicle, rolling your car, driving through your garage door and colliding with a tree. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Medical expense coverage
Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills such as pain medications, EMT expenses and rehabilitation expenses. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers you and your occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This coverage provides protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Ford Expedition.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Normally these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
We just showed you many ways to reduce 2015 Ford Expedition insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers may even find the lowest priced insurance coverage comes from some of the lesser-known companies. These companies often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like State Farm or Progressive.
Budget-conscious insurance can be bought on the web and with local insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
Much more information about insurance coverage is located at the links below