Consumers who are new to the process of shopping for insurance online may find shopping for cut-rate auto insurance is not as easy as it seems.
Buying more affordable coverage is simple if you know the tricks. Essentially everyone who is shopping for insurance will more than likely be able to cut their insurance bill. But drivers can benefit from knowing how big insurance companies market insurance on the web and apply this information to your search.
Comparing insurance rates can be a daunting task if you aren’t aware of the best way to get rate quotes. You could waste a few hours talking to local insurance agents in your area, or you could use online quoting to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
Many companies belong to an insurance system that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and each participating company then returns a price quote based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for.
To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click to open in new window.
One minor caviat to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify the providers you want pricing from. If you prefer to choose specific providers to receive pricing from, we put together a list of low cost insurance companies in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.
It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just compare exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits with every price quote. If the quotes have mixed coverages it’s impossible to decipher which rate is best. Quoting even small variations in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing a large number of companies provides better odds of finding the best offered rates.
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there could be available discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about before they will apply.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way. But all discounts will bring down your overall premium however.
A partial list of companies that may have these discounts are:
Double check with all companies you are considering how you can save money. Discounts might not apply in your area.
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different.
For example, these questions can help discover whether you would benefit from professional advice.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.
Learning about specific coverages of insurance aids in choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Insurance terms can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
UM/UIM Coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your 2007 Mazda CX-7.
Since a lot of 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. Usually the UM/UIM limits are set the same as your liablity limits.
Medical costs insurance – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for expenses for hospital visits, doctor visits, pain medications and prosthetic devices. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to you and your occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – This covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as theft, damage from getting keyed, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a deer and hail damage. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability coverage – This protects you from damage or injury you incur to other people or property in an accident. This coverage protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, loss of income and medical expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.
Collision coverages – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for things like crashing into a ditch, sustaining damage from a pot hole, hitting a mailbox and hitting a parking meter. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.