Nobody likes having to buy insurance coverage, especially knowing they are paying too much. Insurance companies such as State Farm and Geico all claim big savings with TV and radio ads and it is challenging if not impossible to see through the cute green geckos and mayhem and do the work needed to find the best deal.
Most companies provide insurance quotes directly from their websites. Getting online rates is quite simple as you just enter the coverages you want into a form. After the form is submitted, their rating system sends out for your driving and credit reports and returns a price quote based on these and other factors. Online quotes makes comparing rates easy, but the process of having to visit multiple sites and fill out multiple forms gets old quite quickly. Unfortunately, it is important to perform this step if you are searching for the lowest price.
The smarter way to locate the lowest prices is to use a quote form to get prices from several companies at one time. It’s a real time-saver, eliminates repetitive work, and makes online shopping much easier. After sending the form, it is rated with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the price quotes you receive. If you find a better price you can simply submit the application and buy the new coverage. The entire process only takes a few minutes and may result in a nice savings.
To quickly find out what other companies charge, click here and complete the simple form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you copy coverages and limits just like they are on your policy. Doing this guarantees you will have comparison quotes based on identical coverages.
Companies offering auto insurance do not list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.
Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.
A partial list of companies who might offer some of the above discounts are:
Check with all companies you are considering which discounts they offer. Discounts may not be available in your state.
When choosing the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions can help discover whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
Learning about specific coverages of insurance aids in choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are the usual coverages available from insurance companies.
Collision coverages – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for claims like hitting a mailbox, hitting a parking meter and damaging your car on a curb. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Medical payments coverage and PIP – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for surgery, dental work and funeral costs. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – 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, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.
Comprehensive coverage – Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as a broken windshield, damage from getting keyed, hitting a bird and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Liability coverage – Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 that means you have a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability coverage protects against claims like loss of income, funeral expenses, emergency aid and medical expenses. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but buy as large an amount as possible.