Nobody looks forward to buying insurance, especially when they are aware that their premiums are through the roof.
Big-name insurance companies like Progressive, State Farm and Geico constantly blast consumers with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.
You need to compare premium rates periodically because prices change frequently. Even if you think you had the lowest rate for 2 Series coverage a couple years back you will most likely find a better premium rate today. There is lot of inaccurate information about insurance out there, but in a few minutes you can learn some great ideas on how to lower your insurance bill.
If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Buying car insurance is not rocket science. Nevertheless, vehicle owners can benefit from knowing how big insurance companies determine prices.
The quickest method we recommend to compare rate quotes takes advantage of the fact almost all companies will pay a fee to quote your coverage. The only thing you need to do is spend a couple of minutes providing details including whether or not you need a SR-22, your credit rating estimate, how your vehicles are used, and if the vehicle is leased. That rating data is submitted instantly to insurance carriers in your area and you should receive rate quotes almost instantly.
To compare rates for your 2016 BMW 2 Series now, click here then complete the form.
Car insurance companies such as Geico, State Farm and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. All the ads make the same claim of big savings if you just switch your car insurance policy to them. That’s great but how can every company claim to save you money? Just pay attention to how they say it.
Many companies have specific criteria for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, this type of risk profile should be between the ages of 40 and 55, carries high limits, and has excellent credit. A customer who matches those parameters will get the preferred premium rates and will most likely save when they switch companies.
Potential customers who are not a match for these criteria will get higher premium rates with the end result being the customer buying from someone else. If you pay attention, the ads say “people that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. That’s the way companies can make it sound like they have such great rates.
Because of the profiling, it’s extremely important to compare many company’s rates. It’s just not possible to know with any certainty which company will have the lowest rate quotes.
Companies that sell car insurance don’t always publicize all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of a few of the more common and the more hidden discounts that you may qualify for.
Discounts lower rates, but most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way. But any discount will definitely reduce your policy cost.
Auto insurance companies that may offer these discounts are:
If you need lower rates, check with every company which credits you are entitled to. Some credits may not apply to policies in your area. To view providers with discount insurance rates, click here.
When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions can aid in determining if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.
If it’s difficult to answer those 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.
Understanding the coverages of your policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Car insurance terms can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are the usual coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Liability insurance
Liability coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other people or property in an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage protects against things like loss of income, emergency aid, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and medical services. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but consider buying as much as you can afford.
Coverage for medical payments
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills such as pain medications, nursing services and surgery. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Collision insurance
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers claims such as hitting a mailbox, backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with a tree and damaging your car on a curb. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Frequently your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Comprehensive coverages
This covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from getting keyed, hitting a deer, damage from a tornado or hurricane, hail damage and fire damage. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Cheaper auto insurance is possible on the web and from local agencies, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies may not provide rates over the internet and these small, regional companies work with independent agencies.
While you’re price shopping online, it’s very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. In too many instances, an insured cut full coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, but do not skimp to save money.
Additional detailed information can be read in these articles: