Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can take a big chunk out of your personal savings and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparing price quotes is a smart way to tighten up your finances.
Online insurance companies like State Farm, Progressive and Geico all promote huge savings with fancy advertisements and consumers find it hard to not get sucked in by the cute commercials and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
The method we recommend to compare car insurance rates is to know the fact most of the larger companies participate in a system to compare rate quotes. All you need to do is provide a small amount of information like how old drivers are, how you use your vehicles, whether you are married, and if you have a valid license. Your rating data gets transmitted to many of the top insurers and you should receive rate quotes very quickly.
Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.
Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like you could get a free insurance policy, it just doesn’t work that way.
To see a list of insurance companies offering insurance discounts, follow this link.
When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no cookie cutter policy. Each situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions might point out if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Learning about specific coverages of a auto insurance policy aids in choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are the usual coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Chrysler Town and Country.
Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.
Auto liability – Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and 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 commonly see policy limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage, legal defense fees and court costs. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.
Collision coverages – This pays for damage to your Town and Country from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers things such as driving through your garage door, colliding with a tree and colliding with another moving vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, 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 payments and PIP coverage – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for expenses such as X-ray expenses, nursing services, EMT expenses and hospital visits. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Comprehensive auto coverage – Comprehensive insurance pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as hail damage, damage from getting keyed, rock chips in glass, hitting a deer and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.