Tired of being strong-armed to buy car insurance? You’re in the same situation as many other consumers.
Because there are so many insurance coverage companies to choose from, it can be hard to locate the best car insurance company.
Consumers need to get comparison quotes every six months because insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you had the lowest price on L-Series insurance two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about insurance coverage because you’re about to learn one of the best ways to reduce your cost while improving coverage.
Finding the best rates is not that difficult. Essentially anyone who is shopping for car insurance will most likely be able to reduce their rates. Nevertheless, car owners do need to learn the way insurance companies sell online and use this information to your advantage.
Companies don’t list all their discounts very clearly, so here is a list both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.
Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, insurance coverage companies aren’t that generous.
To see a list of companies offering insurance coverage discounts, click here to view.
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions could help you determine whether you will benefit from professional help.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, 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.
Knowing the specifics of your insurance policy helps when choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverages offered by insurance companies.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as fire damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane, vandalism and rock chips in glass. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
UM/UIM Coverage – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries 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. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Auto liability insurance – This provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for claims such as structural damage, legal defense fees, emergency aid and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as much as you can afford.
Medical costs insurance – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills like doctor visits, surgery, prosthetic devices, nursing services and rehabilitation expenses. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. They cover you and your occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision coverage – Collision coverage covers damage to your L-Series resulting from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as rolling your car, sustaining damage from a pot hole, crashing into a ditch and hitting a parking meter. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Lower-priced 2003 Saturn L-Series insurance can be purchased online and also from your neighborhood agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies may not provide online quoting and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.
You just read some good ideas how you can save on insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a small local company. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than the large multi-state companies such as Geico and State Farm.
For more information, take a look at the resources below: