Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of insurance choices? You’re not alone. Consumers have so many choices that it can quickly become a real challenge to find lower rates.
Consumers need to do rate comparisons at least once a year because insurance rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Just because you had the best rates on Focus ST coverage a couple years back other companies may now be cheaper. Ignore everything you know about insurance because you’re about to learn the things you must know in order to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.
Most major insurance companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm provide prices for coverage online. Getting quotes is quite easy as you simply enter the coverages you want into the quote form. Behind the scenes, their system obtains your credit score and driving record and generates a price.
Being able to quote online makes comparing rates easy, but having to visit each company’s website and repetitively fill out multiple forms is repetitive and time-consuming. But it is imperative to do this if you want to find better prices.
Isn’t there an easier way to compare rates?
The smarter way to get multiple rate quotes is to use a quote form that gets prices from a bunch of companies at once. It’s a real time-saver, eliminates repetitive work, and makes price shopping online much more enjoyable. Immediately after you send the form, it is rated and you are able to buy any of the pricing results. If you find a better price you simply finish the application and purchase the new policy. The whole process can be completed in a matter of minutes and may save quite a bit of money.
To save time and compare pricing, simply click here to open in new window and submit the form. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you type in your coverages exactly as shown on your declarations page. This guarantees you will get rate comparison quotes using the exact same coverages.
Auto insurance providers like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all have a common claim about savings if you move your policy. How can each company say the same thing?
All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a preferred risk could be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. Any new insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Potential insureds who don’t qualify for the requirements will be quoted more money and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads state “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently state the savings. This emphasizes why it’s extremely important to compare many company’s rates. It is impossible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.
Companies don’t list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the best known as well as the least known ways to save on car insurance.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.
For a list of companies with discount car insurance rates, click here to view.
When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is unique.
For example, these questions could help you determine if you would benefit from professional advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form.
Understanding the coverages of insurance can be of help when determining appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.
Coverage for liability – This can cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people by causing an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have liability limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, attorney fees, court costs and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible.
Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers claims like driving through your garage door, hitting a parking meter and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things like fire damage, vandalism and damage from flooding. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – This gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Ford Focus ST.
Because many people 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.
Coverage for medical expenses – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for bills for things like rehabilitation expenses, chiropractic care and doctor visits. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
You just read some good ideas how to reduce 2013 Ford Focus ST insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a small mutual company.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
Budget-conscious insurance can be sourced online in addition to many insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies do not provide online price quotes and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.