If you are a novice to online auto insurance shopping, you may be overwhelmed by the large number of online companies competing for business.
Auto insurance companies don’t always publicize every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched some of the more common as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.
Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.
A partial list of companies who might offer these benefits include:
It’s a good idea to ask each insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts might not be offered in your state.
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.
When choosing the best car insurance coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique.
Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.
State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you switch to them. But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.
All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver they prefer to insure. An example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. Any new insured who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Potential insureds who don’t meet these standards will be quoted a higher premium which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers that switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently state the savings. This emphasizes why you should get as many comparisons as possible. It’s not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings on Hyundai Elantra insurance.
Having a good grasp of insurance can be of help when determining the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Liability coverages
Liability insurance can cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people. It protects you against other people’s claims. 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. You might see limits of 25/50/25 which means a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as medical services, repair costs for stationary objects and medical expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but buy as large an amount as possible.
Insurance for medical payments
Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills such as nursing services, prosthetic devices, rehabilitation expenses and surgery. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision protection
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against claims like crashing into a ditch, hitting a mailbox, backing into a parked car, colliding with another moving vehicle and driving through your garage door. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
This coverage provides protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your 2008 Hyundai Elantra.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as theft, a broken windshield, hitting a bird and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Insureds switch companies for a variety of reasons including denial of a claim, not issuing a premium refund, policy cancellation or questionable increases in premium. Regardless of your reason, finding a new company can be easier than you think.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage to discover at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.
Throughout this article, we presented many ways to save on 2008 Hyundai Elantra insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from a lesser-known regional company.
More detailed auto insurance information can be read at these sites: