If you’re shopping for lower-cost insurance on the web, are you intimidated by the sheer number of car insurance choices? You’re not alone. You have such a large number of options that it can easily become a burden to lower your rates.
Some providers do not list all possible discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down some of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving when you buy insurance coverage online.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Despite the appearance that adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way.
A few popular companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are shown below.
If you want the cheapest insurance coverage quotes, ask every company the best way to save money. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not be available in your area. To locate insurance companies who offer cheap car insurance quotes, click here to view.
When choosing the best insurance coverage coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Each situation is unique.
For example, these questions may help highlight if your situation would benefit from professional advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
Well-known auto insurance companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm seem to constantly run ads on TV and radio. They all convey the message that you can save if you change your coverage to them. How does each company give you a lower rate? It’s all in how they say it.
Different companies have an ideal profile for the driver they prefer to insure. A good example of a preferred risk might be described as between the ages of 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and chooses high deductibles. Someone that fits those parameters receive the lowest rate quotes and will cut their rates if they switch.
Consumers who do not meet those standards will have to pay a higher rate and this results in the customer buying from someone else. If you listen closely, the ads state “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. That’s why companies can claim big savings.
This really drives home the point why you really need to compare price quotes frequently. It’s impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.
Learning about specific coverages of your policy can help you determine which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Comprehensive protection
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from getting keyed, fire damage and falling objects. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Medical expense coverage
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for bills for things like X-ray expenses, doctor visits and pain medications. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Liability car insurance
Liability insurance will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people that is your fault. This coverage protects you against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 50/100/50 which means a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $50,000. Occasionally you may see a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage pays for things like loss of income, attorney fees, medical expenses and funeral expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.
Collision coverage protection
Collision insurance covers damage to your Spyder from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims such as sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with another moving vehicle, crashing into a building 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. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and many times these small, regional companies provide coverage only through independent insurance agencies. Lower-priced insurance coverage can be bought on the web and from local insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection.
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest cost while not skimping on critical coverages.
People leave their current company for a number of reasons such as high prices, poor customer service, extreme rates for teen drivers and even not issuing a premium refund. Whatever your reason, finding a new company can be less work than you think.
For more information, feel free to browse the articles below:
Elvie Pennington
Just a quick comment on my experience. I’m in the west part of Rochester, MN. Quoted quotes with Western Auto Insurance, Auto-Owners, Hartford, and MetLife for my Spyder and I think I saved about $30 each month. Are quotes cheaper online? I don’t insure for physical damage though.
Deidre Floyd
I drive uninsured.
Ricardo Hutchinson
Good site, thanks. I’m in Kailua, HI. Don’t remember every company but I ended up saving about $20 each month. Was with Progressive. :P
Mary Rush
If you’re a decent driver and live in the vicinity of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, check out Progressive. They seem to be cheaper. Have an at-fault accident tho. I got a quote from their website.
Bridgette Goodman
Good detail in your article. Live in the southern part of Little Rock, Arkansas. Quoted a bunch of companies. Saved darn near $30 a month. State Farm was the most affordable for me. :P
Leila Mcknight
I’m in the south part of Jackson, Mississippi. I quoted with Mercury, Esurance, GEICO, and American Family for my Maserati and am saving around $60 a year. Good savings if you bundle. I used their online quote form to compare rates. It’s only liability tho.
Eugenie Rutledge
Cheaper not always better. I live on the east side of Honolulu, HI. I compared lots of rates. Saved roughly $20 a month. Progressive was the cheapest option for me. God forbid I actually have a claim. Not worth enough to pay for comprehensive and collision.
Jade Richmond
Are custom wheels covered by insurance?
Zachariah Wells
Got a quote with MetLife for my 2003 Maserati Spyder and saved about $80 a year. I used their online quote form to compare rates.
Jeanmarie Cotton
Corporate greed I’m telling you. I’m in the south part of Rockford, IL. Got quotes with Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Eastwood for my 2003 Maserati Spyder and I’m now saving $17 a month. I increased coverages a little too. Not sure if rates are cheaper online or not. Full coverage costs too much.