Purchasing the cheapest auto insurance online may be problematic for consumers not familiar with comparison shopping online. With so many online companies available, how can you have a chance to compare every one to find the lowest price available?
It’s a great practice to shop coverage around quite often since rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. If you had the best deal for Continental GTC insurance two years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Starting now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the things you must know in order to find lower rates on auto insurance.
Most companies like Allstate and Progressive give price estimates online. Getting online quotes is fairly straightforward as you just type in your personal and coverage information as detailed in the form. When complete, the company’s rating system requests your driving record and credit report and generates a price.
This makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the time it takes to visit multiple sites and complete many quote forms is repetitive and time-consuming. But it’s very important to get many rate quotes in order to find a lower rate.
Quote rates the easy way
The preferred way to compare insurance pricing uses one form to return rates from multiple companies. It’s a real time-saver, requires much less work on your part, and makes quoting online much easier to do. Immediately after submitting the form, it gets priced and you can choose any one of the returned quotes.
If you find a better price it’s easy to complete the application and purchase coverage. The entire process takes just a few minutes to complete and you will know how your current rates stack up.
To save time and find out how much you’re overpaying now, simply click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you input your coverages identical to your current policy. This makes sure you are getting a fair comparison using the exact same coverages.
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, buy you may qualify for discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for in order for you to get them.
It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way. But all discounts will help reduce your premiums.
Insurance companies who might offer these benefits include:
Before buying, ask each company what discounts are available to you. Savings may not be available in your state.
When choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Every situation is different.
Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
Understanding the coverages of a auto insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for bills for hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses and funeral costs. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan 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. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This coverage provides protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Normally these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Collision coverage protection
This coverage pays for damage to your Continental GTC from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for things like crashing into a ditch, sustaining damage from a pot hole and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. Another option is to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Liability auto insurance
This can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects you from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability insurance covers things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, repair costs for stationary objects, attorney fees and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.
Comprehensive coverage
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as vandalism, hail damage, theft, hitting a bird and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.