2008 Kia Optima Insurance Rates

Looking for the cheapest car insurance rates? Shoppers have a choice when shopping for the best price on Kia Optima insurance. You can either waste hours calling around to compare prices or use the internet to compare rates. There is a better way to buy car insurance and we’ll show you the proper way to price shop coverage on a Kia and find the cheapest rates from local insurance agents and online providers.

If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you can use these techniques to reduce the price you pay and possibly find even better coverage. The purpose of this post is to help you learn how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. Drivers just need to know the proper methods to buy auto insurance on the web.

Finding Insurance Deals

Most companies such as State Farm, Allstate and Geico give prices for coverage on their websites. Getting online quotes doesn’t take a lot of time as you just enter your required coverages as detailed in the form. Once you submit the form, their system requests your driving record and credit report and returns pricing information based on these and other factors.

This streamlines rate comparisons, but the work required to visit several different sites and enter the same data into a form is monotonous and tiresome. But it’s absolutely necessary to get many rate quotes in order to find the lowest insurance rates.

The quickest way to find cheaper rates utilizes a single form that gets prices from multiple companies. This type of form saves time, requires less work, and makes comparison shopping a little more enjoyable. After your information is entered, your coverage is rated and you can choose your choice of the pricing results. If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and buy the policy. The entire process takes 15 minutes at the most and you will know how your current rates stack up.

To find out how much you’re overpaying now, simply click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you input the limits and deductibles identical to your current policy. Doing this assures you’re receiving comparison quotes based on the exact same insurance coverage.

Kia Optima rate determination is complex

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for insurance coverage. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with better insurance coverage rates.

The list below includes some of the items insurance coverage companies consider when setting rates.

  • Claim-free discounts can add up – Auto insurance companies award discounts to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance is designed for larger claims.
  • Do you work long hours in a high stress job? – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for insurance coverage? Occupations such as lawyers, executives and dentists have the highest average rates due to stressful work requirements and long work days. Other occupations like scientists, historians and performers get better rates on Optima insurance.
  • How your age affects price – Youthful drivers have a tendency to get distracted easily when behind the wheel so insurance coverage rates are higher. Older insureds are more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
  • Choose a safe vehicle and save – Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles protect occupants better and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates. If the Kia Optima scored better than an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website it may be receiving lower rates.
  • Tickets mean higher rates – Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one citation may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
  • Pay less if you’re married – Having a spouse can actually save you money on your policy. Having a spouse means you’re more mature and responsible and it’s statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Men pay higher rates – The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. Both sexes have accidents in similar numbers, but men cause more damage. Men also receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high insurance coverage rates.

Take discounts and save

Auto insurance companies don’t always publicize every discount very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on insurance. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
  • Memberships – Participating in certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when buying insurance on Optima insurance.
  • No Charge for an Accident – A few companies will forgive one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
  • E-sign – A few companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up online.
  • Federal Employees – Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off on Optima insurance with certain companies.
  • Discount for Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out life insurance from them.
  • Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Discount for New Cars – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.

A partial list of companies that possibly offer these money-saving discounts are:

Before buying, ask each company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts may not apply in your state.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Every insured’s situation is different.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

  • What is medical payments coverage?
  • Are my friends covered when driving my car?
  • What is the minimum liability in my state?
  • Is my teenager covered with friends in the car?
  • Do I have newly-aquired coverage?
  • Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
  • Who is covered by my policy?
  • What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
  • Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?

If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Information about specific coverages

Knowing the specifics of your policy can help you determine the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.

Liability auto insurance

Liability insurance can cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000.

Liability insurance covers claims like court costs, structural damage and pain and suffering. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but consider buying higher limits if possible.

Coverage for collisions

This will pay to fix damage to your Optima resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for claims such as driving through your garage door, sustaining damage from a pot hole, sideswiping another vehicle and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

UM/UIM Coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Kia Optima.

Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Medical costs insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for bills such as chiropractic care, hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses, funeral costs and dental work. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers all vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as hitting a bird, rock chips in glass and vandalism. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Be a Smart Shopper

You just learned many ways to reduce 2008 Kia Optima insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage only to regret that it was a big error on their part. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate.

Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like poor customer service, high prices, being labeled a high risk driver and even high rates after DUI convictions. Regardless of your reason, finding a new car insurance company is actually quite simple.

Additional information can be found at the links below