I can’t think of a single person who looks forward to paying for auto insurance, particularly when the price is too high. Insurance companies such as Allstate, Liberty Mutual and State Farm increase brand awareness with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to separate fact from fiction and take the time to shop coverage around.
It’s important that you understand the factors that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.
Listed below are some of the items companies use to determine rates.
Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise all available discounts very clearly, so we took the time to find both the well known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.
Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way.
To see a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts, click this link.
When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions could help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Knowing the specifics of insurance can help you determine which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are typical coverages found on most insurance policies.
Collision coverage protection
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your 9-7X caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, rolling your car, crashing into a building and hitting a mailbox. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
Coverage for liability
Liability insurance can cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as legal defense fees, court costs and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as much as you can afford.
Medical expense insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for expenses for things like ambulance fees, prosthetic devices, EMT expenses and surgery. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This gives you protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as hitting a deer, rock chips in glass, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and falling objects. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
We just covered quite a bit of information on how to save on 2007 Saab 9-7X insurance. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a small local company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive and Geico.
When trying to cut insurance costs, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped full coverage only to regret that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.