Feel like you’re a prisoner to an overpriced insurance policy? Trust us, you’re not alone. Drivers have so many insurers to buy insurance from, and although it’s nice to be able to choose, it makes it harder to locate the cheapest rates.
Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that come into play when calculating insurance coverage rates. Understanding what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with big savings.
Comparing car insurance rates can be exhausting if you don’t utilize the most efficient way. You can waste hours talking about coverages with local insurance agents in your area, or you could use the internet to get prices fast.
Most of the larger companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to complete one form, and at least one company can provide price quotes based on that information. This saves time by eliminating quote forms to each individual car insurance company.
To find out how much you can save on car insurance click to open in new window.
The one downside to using this type of system is you cannot specify the providers to get quotes from. So if you prefer to pick individual companies to compare rates, we have assembled a list of low cost car insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.
Which method you use is up to you, but be sure to compare the exact same coverage limits and deductibles with each company. If you use higher or lower deductibles it’s not possible to determine the best price for your Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera.
Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of State Farm, Geico and Progressive. All the ads have a common claim of big savings if you switch your coverage to them.
How can each company claim to save you money?
Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer might be profiled as a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.
Potential customers who are not a match for the “perfect” profile will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can make those claims. Because of the profiling, drivers should get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know the company that will have the lowest Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera insurance rates.
Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise every discount very well, so we break down some of the more common and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If you don’t get every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.
Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Car insurance companies that may have these benefits are:
Check with each company which discounts you may be entitled to. Savings may not apply in your state.
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of insurance coverage companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.
Knowing the specifics of your policy can help you determine appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are typical coverages offered by auto insurance companies.
Collision coverages – Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Cutlass Ciera resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for things like colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a parking meter, crashing into a building and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
Medical costs insurance – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for bills for things like surgery, nursing services, funeral costs and ambulance fees. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
UM/UIM Coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Liability auto insurance – Liability insurance protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as repair costs for stationary objects, funeral expenses, attorney fees, medical expenses and court costs. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but you should buy higher limits if possible.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – Comprehensive insurance covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hitting a bird, damage from a tornado or hurricane, falling objects, vandalism and fire damage. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
We covered some good ideas how you can reduce 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with some of the smallest insurance companies. Smaller companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like Progressive or Geico.
When shopping online for insurance coverage, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.