Have you fallen victim to an overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you there are many consumers feeling the pinch from expensive car insurance.
Companies like State Farm and Geico increase brand awareness with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to see through the deception and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
It’s a good habit to price shop coverage before your policy renews because prices are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you found the best price on CR-V insurance six months ago you may be paying too much now. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to how to use the internet to reduce your cost while improving coverage.
If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to save some money using this strategy. Finding affordable coverage is not rocket science. But drivers do need to understand the way insurance companies sell online and use this information to your advantage.
Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that come into play when calculating insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to lower insurance prices.
Performing a rate comparison can take time and effort if you aren’t aware of the most efficient way. You could spend your day talking about coverages with insurance companies in your area, or you could use the internet to get the quickest rates.
The majority of car insurance companies participate in a marketplace that enables customers to enter their coverage request one time, and every company can give them a price based on that information. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms to each individual insurance company. To compare pricing click here to open in new window.
The only downside to using this type of form is buyers cannot specifically choose which providers you will receive quotes from. So if you want to select specific providers to compare rates, we have a page of companies who write insurance in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.
Whichever way you use, make darn sure you compare exactly the same coverages with every price quote. If you are comparing mixed coverages it will be next to impossible to make an equal comparison. Slightly different coverage limits can make a big difference in price. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing more company’s prices will improve the odds of getting lower pricing.
Auto insurance companies such as Allstate and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all seem to say the same thing that you’ll save big after switching your policy. But how can every company make the same claim?
All companies can use profiling for the right customer that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured might be between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a high credit rating. A driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.
Potential insureds who fall outside these standards will be quoted higher rates and ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. This emphasizes why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It’s not possible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.
Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list every available discount very well, so here is a list both the well known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck.
Car insurance companies that possibly offer these money-saving discounts are:
It’s a good idea to ask each insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts may not be available in your state.
When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions might help in determining if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of insurance coverage companies in your area.
Knowing the specifics of your policy aids in choosing which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find typical coverages found on the average insurance policy.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for expenses for things like nursing services, doctor visits, pain medications and dental work. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Comprehensive auto coverage
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as theft, rock chips in glass, fire damage and hitting a deer. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Liability auto insurance
This provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people, 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. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 that means you have a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against things such as medical services, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, funeral expenses, attorney fees and structural damage. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but you should buy higher limits if possible.
Collision insurance
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for things such as crashing into a building, rolling your car, hitting a mailbox and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Honda CR-V.
Due to the fact that many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
In this article, we covered a lot of ways to save on 2015 Honda CR-V insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced insurance coverage comes from a small mutual company. Regional companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like State Farm, Geico and Nationwide.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, someone dropped full coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.
Budget-conscious insurance can be found from both online companies as well as from independent agents, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.
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