2012 Kia Optima Car Insurance Rates

Want cheaper insurance coverage rates for your Kia Optima? Nobody looks forward to paying for insurance coverage, especially when they are paying too much.

Lots of insurers contend for your hard-earned dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every company and get the definite best rate

Consumers need to shop coverage around at least once a year since insurance rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Even if you think you had the best rates for Optima insurance last year you will most likely find a better rate today. So just ignore everything you know about insurance coverage because we’re going to show you the fastest and easiest way to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Buying car insurance is quite easy. But vehicle owners need to learn the methods companies use to sell insurance online.

Insurance Coverage Comparisons

The are a couple different ways to compare rate quotes from local insurance coverage companies. The best method to find the lowest 2012 Kia Optima rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

Probably the best way consumers can make multiple comparisons is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This easy form prevents you from having to do multiple quote forms to each individual insurance coverage company. One form submission will get you rate comparisons instantly.

A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online requires a visit to the website for every company you want to comare to request a price quote. For examples sake, let’s say you want to compare Progressive, Geico and Liberty Mutual. To get each rate you have to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why most consumers use the first method. For a list of links to insurance companies in your area, click here.

Whichever method you choose, be sure to compare apples-to-apples coverage limits on every quote you get. If you compare differing limits you can’t possibly make an equal comparison. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits could mean much higher rates. It’s important to know that having more price comparisons will improve the odds of getting the best rates.

Policy discounts you shouldn’t miss

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you may find discounts to help offset the cost. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of quoting, but a few must be requested specifically in order for you to get them.

  • Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% since new cars are generally safer.
  • 55 and Retired – Older drivers may qualify for a discount up to 10% for Optima insurance.
  • Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Distant Student – Any of your kids who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
  • E-sign – A handful of insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
  • Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less for Optima insurance than their less cautious counterparts.
  • Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.

It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But all discounts will bring down the cost of coverage.

For a list of providers with the best insurance discounts, follow this link.

Insurance agents can help

When buying adequate coverage, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether or not you might need professional guidance.

  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
  • Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
  • Am I insured when driving a different vehicle?
  • Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of insurance coverage companies in your area.

Why your Kia Optima insurance rates may be high

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that go into determining insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower insurance prices.

  • Don’t buy coverages you don’t need – There are quite a few extra coverages you can purchase on your Optima policy. Things like roadside assistance, better glass coverage and membership fees are examples of these. These coverages may sound good at first, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.
  • Men are more aggressive – The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, don’t assume that men are WORSE drivers than women. Women and men have accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI.
  • Choose a safe vehicle and save – Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles have better occupant injury protection and fewer injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and thus lower rates. If the Kia Optima is rated at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website you are probably receiving a discount.
  • Discounts for multiple policies – Most companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, you still need to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
  • High numbers of claims are not good – If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies generally give lower rates to people who are claim-free. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment – Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder car theft.
  • Protect your assets with liability insurance – Liability insurance is the coverage that protects you if you are found to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
  • Higher deductibles cost less – Your deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, vandalism, and windstorm damage. The more money you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be for Optima insurance.

Buyer beware of car insurance advertising tricks

Car insurance companies such as Geico, State Farm and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. They all seem to say the same thing that you’ll save big after switching your policy. But how can every company claim to save you money?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. Any driver who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who do not match these standards will be charged a higher premium and ends up with business not being written. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why companies can advertise the way they do.

That is why it is so important to compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest Kia Optima insurance rates.

Insurance coverage breakdown

Having a good grasp of your insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find typical coverage types offered by insurance companies.

Coverage for medical payments – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for immediate expenses for doctor visits, nursing services and pain medications. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Liability – Liability coverage can cover damage that occurs to people or other property that is your fault. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage pays for things like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, medical services, medical expenses, attorney fees and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but buy higher limits if possible.

Comprehensive coverages – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hitting a deer, theft, falling objects and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Kia Optima.

Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Normally the UM/UIM limits are set the same as your liablity limits.

Collision coverage – Collision coverage covers damage to your Optima caused by collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for things such as damaging your car on a curb, hitting a parking meter, sustaining damage from a pot hole and hitting a mailbox. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Another option is to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Quote often and quote early

Budget-conscious 2012 Kia Optima insurance can be bought both online and with local insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

In this article, we covered a lot of information how to get a better price on insurance. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even discover the most savings is with an unexpected company. Some small companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.

Much more information about car insurance is located at the links below