Nobody I know likes having to buy auto insurance, especially knowing their premiums are too high.
Since consumers have many companies to choose from, it can be hard to choose the right provider.
There are a lot of ways to compare insurance prices but one way is less time-consuming than others. You can waste a lot of time driving to insurance agencies in your area, or you can stay home and use online quoting to get the quickest rates.
The majority of car insurance companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to submit their information once, and every company then gives them pricing for coverage. This system prevents you from having to do quote forms for each company.
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One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is that you can’t choose the providers you want to price. If you prefer to choose individual companies to receive pricing from, we have a listing of low cost insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.
Which method you use is up to you, but be sure to compare the exact same coverage limits and deductibles for every quote you compare. If the quotes have different limits and deductibles on each one it will be impossible to make an equal comparison. Slightly different limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. Just keep in mind that having more price comparisons helps locate the best offered rates.
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but companies offer discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will cut your premiums.
Companies that possibly offer these discounts include:
Double check with each insurance company what discounts are available to you. All car insurance discounts might not be offered in your area.
When buying the best insurance coverage coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions can aid in determining whether you could use an agent’s help.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk 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 for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Ford Explorer.
Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.
Medical expense coverage
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for expenses such as rehabilitation expenses, X-ray expenses, surgery, dental work and chiropractic care. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers both the driver and occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Comprehensive protection
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like hitting a bird, a broken windshield, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and vandalism. The most a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Auto liability
This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people in an accident. It protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see values of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability insurance covers things such as pain and suffering, medical expenses and loss of income. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.
Collision coverage protection
Collision insurance covers damage to your Explorer resulting from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims like colliding with a tree, scraping a guard rail and hitting a mailbox. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Another option is to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
When buying insurance coverage, it’s very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where an insured cut full coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.
Cheap 2008 Ford Explorer insurance is definitely available from both online companies as well as from independent agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies don’t offer online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
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