Nobody I know likes having to buy car insurance, especially knowing their premiums are too high. Drivers have so many auto insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s nice to have a choice, having more insurance companies makes it harder to compare rates and find the lowest cost car insurance.
Consumers should take time to shop coverage around at least once a year because rates tend to go up over time. Just because you had the lowest price for Sportage insurance a couple years back you can probably find a better price now. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you’re about to find out one of the quickest ways to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.
Car insurance companies do not list every discount very well, so the following is a list of both the well known and the more hidden car insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit available, you are throwing money away.
Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way.
To see a list of providers who offer car insurance discounts, click this link.
When choosing coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions might point out if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Having a good grasp of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are typical coverage types offered by auto insurance companies.
UM/UIM Coverage – This provides protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Kia Sportage.
Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – This will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hitting a bird, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, falling objects and a broken windshield. The maximum amount 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 removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability coverage – This coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people in an accident. It protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see values of 25/50/25 that means you have a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability insurance covers claims like medical expenses, emergency aid, legal defense fees and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
Collision – This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Sportage resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things like crashing into a ditch, backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle, hitting a parking meter and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Medical costs insurance – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for immediate expenses such as X-ray expenses, doctor visits, dental work, hospital visits and funeral costs. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers all vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Budget-conscious 1996 Kia Sportage insurance can be purchased both online and with local insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies do not offer online quoting and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The aim is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.
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