Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced insurance policy? Trust us, there are many people just like you.
There is such a variety of auto insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s a good thing to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates and cut insurance costs.
Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the harder-to-find ways to save on insurance coverage.
As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.
To see a list of companies who offer insurance coverage discounts, click this link.
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Learning about specific coverages of your insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are the usual coverages available from insurance companies.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – This will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from flooding and a broken windshield. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Pontiac Aztek.
Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Medical expense insurance – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for immediate expenses for things like hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses, ambulance fees and dental work. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Auto liability insurance – This coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other people or property that is your fault. This coverage protects you from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show values of 25/50/25 which means a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability can pay for claims like attorney fees, funeral expenses, court costs and bail bonds. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
Collision – This covers damage to your Aztek resulting from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for claims like driving through your garage door, scraping a guard rail, rolling your car, crashing into a building and hitting a mailbox. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s very important that you do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are many occasions where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
Lower-priced 2003 Pontiac Aztek insurance can be purchased online in addition to many insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.