Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can take a big chunk out of your savings account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparing price quotes is a great way to tighten up your finances.
You have multiple auto insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and although it’s nice to have a choice, so many choices can make it hard to adequately compare rates.
The best way to get policy rate comparisons takes advantage of the fact car insurance companies will pay a fee to give rate comparisons. The only thing you need to do is give the companies some data such as if it has an anti-theft system, whether you have decent credit, your occupation, and if you require a SR-22. That rating data is then sent to multiple different insurance companies and you get price estimates almost instantly.
Companies don’t always list all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.
Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
Companies that possibly offer some of the above discounts include:
Before buying, ask each insurance company what discounts are available to you. Savings may not be available everywhere.
When choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether or not you might need professional guidance.
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.
Having a good grasp of your policy can help you determine which coverages you need for your vehicles. Car insurance terms can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find typical coverage types offered by car insurance companies.
Liability car insurance – This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. It protects YOU against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have values of 25/50/25 which means a limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability can pay for claims such as legal defense fees, repair costs for stationary objects, structural damage, bail bonds and court costs. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for bills for things like rehabilitation expenses, nursing services and pain medications. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.
Collision coverages – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against things such as crashing into a ditch, damaging your car on a curb, colliding with a tree and backing into a parked car. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things such as vandalism, damage from getting keyed, damage from a tornado or hurricane and a broken windshield. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
When buying insurance coverage, never reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, someone sacrificed full coverage and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
Budget-conscious 1991 Dodge RAM 150 insurance is possible from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.