Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you there are many people just like you. Big-name insurance companies like Allstate, Progressive and Geico all promote huge savings with advertising and it is difficult to avoid their marketing magic and take the time to shop coverage around.
It’s a good habit to price shop coverage occasionally because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best rates for Grand Prix coverage six months ago a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the proper way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.
If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you can use these techniques to find better prices while maximizing coverage. Buying car insurance is not rocket science. Drivers just need to learn the proper methods to compare price quotes online.
Car insurance can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts to reduce the price significantly. Some discounts apply automatically when you get a quote, but a few need to be asked for before they will apply. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.
Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck. But any discount will bring down your premiums.
Car insurance companies that may have some of the above discounts are:
Before buying, ask each insurance company what discounts are available to you. Some discounts may not apply everywhere.
When choosing the right insurance coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions can help discover if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as Allstate and Progressive. All the ads have a common claim of big savings if you switch your policy.
How do they all make the same claim? This is how they do it.
Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has a high credit rating. Any driver that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.
Consumers who don’t meet the requirements must pay higher prices and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads say “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That is how companies can truthfully claim big savings.
This illustrates why you need to compare many company’s rates. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.
Knowing the specifics of your car insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Car insurance terms can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are typical coverages available from car insurance companies.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage – This coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Pontiac Grand Prix.
Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Normally these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Coverage for medical payments – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for immediate expenses like chiropractic care, dental work and nursing services. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover you and your occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Comprehensive coverages – This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from getting keyed, vandalism, theft and rock chips in glass. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Collision coverages – This coverage pays for damage to your Grand Prix resulting from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as hitting a mailbox, scraping a guard rail, crashing into a ditch, driving through your garage door and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Liability auto insurance – Liability insurance can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Another option is a combined limit which limits claims to one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability can pay for things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, funeral expenses, loss of income and bail bonds. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.
When shopping online for insurance, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits to discover at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.
We covered a lot of information how to save on 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the most savings is with a small local company. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like Geico and State Farm.
Discount insurance is possible on the web and with local insurance agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
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