I can’t think of a single person who looks forward to paying for car insurance, especially when their premiums are through the roof. Drivers have so many insurers to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more challenging to compare company pricing.
Most companies like State Farm, Geico and Progressive allow you to get pricing online. Getting quotes doesn’t take much effort as you simply type in your personal and coverage information as requested by the quote form. Once entered, the system automatically retrieves your credit score and driving record and generates a price based on these and other factors. Online quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but the work required to visit many different websites and type in the same information can get tiresome after awhile. Unfortunately, it is important to get many rate quotes if you are searching for the lowest price.
A quicker way to get multiple rate quotes uses one form to obtain quotes from several different companies. The form is fast, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes rate comparisons much simpler. As soon as you send your information, it is rated and you can choose any one of the price quotes you receive. If the quotes result in lower rates, you simply finish the application and buy the new coverage. The entire process can be completed in a matter of minutes and could lower your rates considerably.
In order to compare rates using this form now, click here to open in new window and enter your vehicle and coverage information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you copy the limits and deductibles as shown on your current policy. This guarantees you will have rate comparison quotes for the exact same coverage.
Car insurance companies don’t always list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down some of the best known and also the lesser-known insurance savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.
A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way.
Companies who might offer some of the above discounts include:
Check with all companies you are considering what discounts are available to you. Some discounts may not be available in your state.
When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions can help discover if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to 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, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.
Learning about specific coverages of your policy can be of help when determining the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Car insurance terms can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are the usual coverages found on the average car insurance policy.
Medical expense coverage
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses for things like X-ray expenses, doctor visits, nursing services, funeral costs and surgery. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Collision insurance
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers things like colliding with another moving vehicle, scraping a guard rail, sideswiping another vehicle and crashing into a ditch. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive protection
This pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like vandalism, falling objects, hitting a bird, fire damage and damage from flooding. The most your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Liability insurance
This provides protection from damage that occurs to other people or property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage pays for things like pain and suffering, court costs, emergency aid, loss of income and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.