If you’re new to shopping for auto insurance quotes online, you can be confused thanks to all the different types local agents and online companies all claiming to have the lowest rates.
Choosing the best insurance company for you is not rocket science. In a nutshell, every vehicle owner who shops for insurance will most likely be able to find better rates. But drivers do need to know how big insurance companies compete online.
Many insurance companies such as Geico, State Farm and Progressive allow you to get pricing direct online. This process doesn’t take a lot of time because you just enter your coverage preferences into a form. After you complete the form, their rating system orders reports for credit and driving violations and provides a quote based on the information you submitted.
Quoting online makes it simple to compare prices but the process of having to visit several different sites and type in your information is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it is imperative to compare as many rates as possible in order to get better prices.
Rate comparisons made easy
The quickest way to locate the lowest prices uses just one form to obtain quotes from a bunch of companies at once. This type of form saves time, requires much less work on your part, and makes online shopping a little more enjoyable. As soon as the form is sent, it is quoted and you can select your choice of the price quotes you receive. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, it’s easy to complete the application and buy the policy. This process can be completed in a matter of minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.
In order to use this form to compare rates, click here to open in new window and begin entering your coverage information. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you replicate coverages and limits identical to your current policy. This helps ensure you will be getting comparison quotes for similar insurance coverage.
Popular insurance providers such as Geico, State Farm and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings if you switch your policy. How does every company charge less that you’re paying now? You have to listen carefully.
All the different companies have specific characteristics for the right customer that earns them the highest profit. An example of this type of insured might have to be over age 30, has no claims, and does not commute to work. Someone that fits those parameters receive the lowest rate quotes and will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Potential insureds who fall short of this stringent profile may be required to pay a higher rate which results in business going elsewhere. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. That’s the way insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. This really illustrates why you absolutely need to compare price quotes frequently. It is impossible to guess which company will fit you best based on your risk profile.
The best way to find cheaper insurance is to take a look at the different types of things that go into determining your policy premiums. If you have some idea of what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make good choices that may reward you with cheaper rates. Multiple criteria are considered when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are pretty understandable like a motor vehicle report, but other criteria are more transparent such as your credit history or your commute time.
The list below includes some of the most rate-impacting factors companies use to determine your rates.
Buying insurance coverage is not cheap, but you might already qualify for some discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Some of these disounts will be visible when you quote, but some need to be requested specifically before you get the savings.
You should keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Despite the appearance that it’s possible to get free car insurance, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
Larger insurance coverage companies and their possible discounts are detailed below.
When getting free auto insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to each insurance company how you can save money. Some discounts listed above might not apply in your state. To find providers that have a full spectrum of discounts, follow this link.
When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.
For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you will benefit from professional help.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form.
Learning about specific coverages of your policy helps when choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Collision protection
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Rio resulting from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for things such as colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a parking meter, sustaining damage from a pot hole and damaging your car on a curb. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive protection
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as fire damage, rock chips in glass, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a bird and damage from flooding. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Auto liability insurance
Liability insurance can cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property in an accident. It protects you against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see limits of 50/100/50 that translate to $50,000 bodily injury coverage, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability insurance covers claims like funeral expenses, repair costs for stationary objects, medical expenses and attorney fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as much as you can afford.
Medical expense coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses such as surgery, hospital visits, dental work and X-ray expenses. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover you and your occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Kia Rio.
Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
People change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as policy non-renewal, poor customer service, delays in paying claims or high prices. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching companies is not as hard as you think.
When you buy auto insurance online, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that they should have had better coverage. Your goal is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
Lower-priced 2018 Kia Rio insurance is attainable online as well as from independent agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional carriers provide coverage only through independent agents.