Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are lots of people in the same boat. Numerous car insurance companies battle for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurance companies and uncover the absolute lowest cost out there.
If you are insured now or need new coverage, you can use this information to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Finding affordable coverage is quite easy. Drivers just need to understand the most effective way to compare prices online.
Performing a rate comparison can take time and effort if you aren’t aware of the most efficient way. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with insurance companies in your area, or you can stay home and use the web for quick rates.
Most of the larger companies enroll in a system that enables customers to send in one quote, and every company can give them a price. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for every insurance company.
To participate in this free quote system, click here to open in new window.
One minor caviat to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify which companies to get pricing from. So if you want to select specific providers to compare prices, we have assembled a list of insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.
Whichever method you choose, compare the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you have mixed coverages it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best.
When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions may help you determine if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.
Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – This protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Collision coverage – Collision coverage pays for damage to your QX70 resulting from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers things like sideswiping another vehicle, scraping a guard rail and rolling your car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Medical expense insurance – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for short-term medical expenses such as rehabilitation expenses, nursing services, EMT expenses and chiropractic care. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as damage from flooding, hail damage, theft, damage from a tornado or hurricane and hitting a bird. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Liability coverages – This coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to other people or property by causing an accident. It 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. As an example, you may have values of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability coverage protects against claims like funeral expenses, repair costs for stationary objects, pain and suffering and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.