Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us, there are many consumers feeling the pinch from expensive auto insurance. There are many car insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, it makes it harder to find the best rates for your vehicles.
You should take the time to get comparison quotes on a regular basis because insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you think you had the best deal on S-10 insurance a year ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Starting now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because we’re going to show you the things you must know in order to remove unneeded coverages and save money.
Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise all their discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the more common and the harder-to-find ways to save on insurance. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.
A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
For a list of insurers with discount insurance rates, click this link.
Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.
Listed below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.
When choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions could help you determine if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.
Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as Geico, State Farm and Progressive. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you move your policy.
How do they all claim to save you money?
All the different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 50, is a homeowner, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Drivers who don’t meet this ideal profile will be charged higher prices which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. That’s the way companies can truthfully advertise the savings. That is why it is so important to quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.
Knowing the specifics of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverages available from auto insurance companies.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
This coverage provides protection from other drivers 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 a lot of 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.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for short-term medical expenses for things like X-ray expenses, hospital visits, chiropractic care, pain medications and prosthetic devices. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Comprehensive auto coverage
This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as theft, damage from a tornado or hurricane and damage from flooding. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Collision protection
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision can pay for claims such as rolling your car, scraping a guard rail, colliding with a tree and hitting a parking meter. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Auto liability insurance
Liability insurance protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000.
Liability insurance covers things such as emergency aid, attorney fees, medical expenses, bail bonds and medical services. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but consider buying higher limits if possible.
You just read a lot of tips how to compare 1994 Chevy S-10 insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Drivers may discover the lowest premiums are with a lesser-known regional company. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like Geico and State Farm.
When you buy insurance online, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t have enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price.