I can’t think of anyone who looks forward to buying car insurance, in particular when their premiums are through the roof. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, Geico and Progressive continually bombard you with TV and radio ads and it is difficult to separate fact from fiction and do the work needed to find the best deal.
If you have a policy now or are looking for a new policy, you can learn to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding the best rates is easy if you know what you’re doing. Consumers just need to know the proper methods to shop on the web.
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there could be available discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some trigger automatically when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically before being credited. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you’re paying more than you need to.
Drivers should understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way. Any amount of discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.
A partial list of companies that possibly offer these benefits are:
It’s a good idea to ask each insurance company what discounts are available to you. Savings might not apply in your state.
Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for insurance coverage. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower insurance coverage prices.
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.
Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings from companies such as State Farm, Allstate and Geico. All the ads make an identical promise about savings if you switch your policy.
How can each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.
Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” receives the best rates and most likely will save a lot of money.
Potential customers who don’t measure up to these standards will be charged a more expensive rate and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads state “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. This is how companies can make the claims of big savings.
That is why you should compare many company’s rates. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings on Mercedes-Benz S-Class insurance.
Having a good grasp of insurance aids in choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are typical coverage types available from insurance companies.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Most of the time these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things like vandalism, rock chips in glass, damage from flooding and a broken windshield. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Medical expense insurance
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses like funeral costs, ambulance fees and doctor visits. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Collision insurance
Collision insurance covers damage to your S-Class caused by collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against things like hitting a mailbox, hitting a parking meter and crashing into a ditch. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Liability coverages
Liability insurance protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a limit of $100,000 per injured person, $300,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability insurance covers things such as legal defense fees, structural damage, pain and suffering and repair costs for stationary objects. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
We covered many ideas to shop for 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Drivers may discover the lowest rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive and Geico.
Lower-priced insurance is available online in addition to many insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. Some companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.