View 2009 Buick Lucerne Insurance Cost

No one enjoys paying for insurance coverage, especially knowing the price is too high. Big companies like Progressive, State Farm and Geico promote their brand names with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to see past the corporate glitz and do the work needed to find the best deal.

How to Get Insurance Coverage

Getting a lower price on 2009 Buick Lucerne insurance is not a difficult process. All that’s required is to take the time to compare quotes online with multiple companies. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

  • The easiest and least time consuming way to compare a lot of rates at once would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This type of form saves time by eliminating repetitive form entry to each individual insurance coverage company. One form compares rates from many national carriers.
  • A harder way to compare rate quotes is to manually visit each company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For example, let’s assume you want comparison quotes from USAA, Safeco and Travelers. To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker. To view a list of companies in your area, click here.

Which method you use is up to you, but double check that you are using identical coverages on every quote. If each company quotes different values for each quote you can’t possibly find the best deal for your Buick Lucerne.

Save money by taking advantage of these discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not know about. Some discounts apply automatically at quote time, but lesser-known reductions have to be inquired about prior to receiving the credit. If you don’t get every credit available, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings up to 30%.
  • Life Insurance – Some companies give a break if you buy life insurance.
  • Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
  • Discount for Swiching Early – A few companies offer discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
  • New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

A partial list of companies that may have some of the above discounts include:

It’s a good idea to ask all companies you are considering how you can save money. Discounts may not be available in every state.

Buick Lucerne rates are in the details

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.

  • Where you live can impact rates – Residing in a rural area has it’s advantages when it comes to auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
  • Poor credit can mean higher rates – Your credit rating is a huge factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with lower credit scores. So if your credit score can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your 2009 Buick Lucerne by improving your credit score.
  • Older drivers pay less – Teenage drivers tend to get distracted easily behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Adding a teenage driver onto a policy can be very expensive. Older drivers are more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
  • High crash test scores lower rates – Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. Safer cars protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders. If your Buick has ratings of a minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you are probably receiving a discount.
  • Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job – Occupations such as doctors, business owners and stock brokers tend to pay the highest rates in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. On the other hand, occupations like scientists, students and retirees have the lowest average rates for Lucerne coverage.
  • Liability insurance protects assets – Liability coverage provides coverage when you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability insurance is quite affordable when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • An active claims history can cost you – If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance companies generally give lower rates to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.

When should I use an insurance agent?

When choosing the right insurance coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if you could use an agent’s help.

  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • Are my friends covered when driving my 2009 Buick Lucerne?
  • Do I need an umbrella policy?
  • Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
  • Is my teenager covered with friends in the car?
  • Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my 2009 Buick Lucerne is totaled?
  • Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
  • Is a fancy paint job covered?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Do drivers who switch really save $489 a year?

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings from companies such as State Farm and Allstate. They all have a common claim about savings if you switch your policy.

How does each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer they prefer to insure. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. Any driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Drivers who don’t measure up to these standards must pay more money which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently make those claims.

This illustrates why it’s extremely important to get as many quotes as possible. You cannot predict which company will provide you with the cheapest Buick Lucerne insurance rates.

Auto insurance coverages explained

Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. These are typical coverages available from auto insurance companies.

Auto collision coverage

Collision coverage covers damage to your Lucerne from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for things like rolling your car, crashing into a ditch and hitting a mailbox. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Coverage for liability

Liability insurance can cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people by causing an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Some companies may use a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, emergency aid, funeral expenses and medical expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.

Comprehensive protection

This will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as rock chips in glass, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from flooding and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Medical expense coverage

Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses such as nursing services, X-ray expenses, rehabilitation expenses and pain medications. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Buick Lucerne.

Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Buy online or local, you save

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Cheaper 2009 Buick Lucerne insurance can be bought from both online companies and with local insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some car insurance companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

More information can be found on the following sites: