Are you confused by the dozens of car insurance choices? Many other drivers are as well. Drivers have so many options that it can turn into a big hassle to locate the lowest price.
Buying the lowest cost auto insurance coverage is quite easy. Basically, anyone who has to buy auto insurance should be able to find lower rates. But vehicle owners do need to understand the methods companies use to sell online and use this information to your advantage.
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of quoting, but a few need to be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.
It’s important to note that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck. But any discount will help reduce your overall premium however.
Car insurance companies who might offer these money-saving discounts include:
Before buying, ask each insurance company how you can save money. Discounts may not apply in every state.
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining the price you pay for insurance coverage. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to better insurance coverage rates.
When choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different.
Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if you might need professional guidance.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form.
Companies like State Farm and Allstate consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the ads make the same claim of big savings if you change to them. How does each company say the same thing?
All the different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a driver they prefer might be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Consumers who don’t meet these standards will be quoted more money which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. That is how companies can advertise the way they do.
This emphasizes why it’s extremely important to compare many company’s rates. It is impossible to predict which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.
Knowing the specifics of your policy can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Volvo S60.
Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Most of the time your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Liability auto insurance
This coverage can cover damage that occurs to people or other property. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Another option is a combined limit which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for things like emergency aid, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
Comprehensive car insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, fire damage, theft and hitting a bird. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Collision protection
This coverage pays for damage to your S60 resulting from a collision with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for claims such as sideswiping another vehicle, driving through your garage door, damaging your car on a curb, scraping a guard rail and hitting a mailbox. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Coverage for medical expenses
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for expenses like surgery, rehabilitation expenses, X-ray expenses, funeral costs and hospital visits. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, high prices, lack of trust in their agent or even delays in responding to claim requests. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a great new company can be less work than you think.
When you buy insurance online, don’t be tempted to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, someone dropped physical damage coverage to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.
We just showed you some good ideas how you can save on 2004 Volvo S60 insurance. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the lowest premiums are with a lesser-known regional company.
To learn more, feel free to visit these articles: