Have you fallen victim to an overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you you’re not the only one.
Online insurance companies like State Farm, Progressive and Geico constantly blast consumers with ads and it is difficult to not get sucked in by the cute commercials and do the work needed to find the best deal.
It’s a good idea to price shop coverage on a regular basis since rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price on Mariner coverage a couple years back you may be paying too much now. Starting now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the quickest way to save on auto insurance.
If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. Finding affordable coverage is not rocket science. Nevertheless, car owners must know the methods companies use to price insurance differently because it can help you find the best coverage.
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but companies offer discounts to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for before being credited.
Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.
To see a list of insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts, follow this link.
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help highlight whether or not you may require specific advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk 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.
Understanding the coverages of car insurance can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are the normal coverages found on the average car insurance policy.
Liability insurance
Liability coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 50/100/50 that translate to $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as pain and suffering, repair costs for stationary objects, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage and court costs. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as hail damage, hitting a deer, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, vandalism and hitting a bird. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Medical costs insurance
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills for things like doctor visits, hospital visits, nursing services and EMT expenses. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
UM/UIM Coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Mercury Mariner.
Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Collision protection
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers things such as damaging your car on a curb, scraping a guard rail, crashing into a building and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.
In this article, we covered many ideas to shop for 2005 Mercury Mariner insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies. Some small companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as Geico and State Farm.
While you’re price shopping online, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that it was a big error on their part. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at the best price.