Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me, you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. With consumers having so many auto insurance companies to choose from, it is very difficult to pick the most affordable car insurance company.
It’s smart to compare rates occasionally because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest rates on Caliber coverage a couple years back the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So just forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you the easiest way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.
Finding the best rates is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Drivers only need an understanding of the most effective way to find the lowest price online.
An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.
Shown below are a few of the “ingredients” companies use to determine rates.
Car insurance companies do not advertise every discount very clearly, so we researched both the well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If you’re not getting every credit available, you’re just leaving money on the table.
It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.
Insurance companies that possibly offer these discounts are:
Check with all companies you are considering what discounts are available to you. Some discounts might not be offered everywhere.
When buying adequate coverage, there is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether you would benefit from professional advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
Learning about specific coverages of insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are the usual coverages found on most insurance policies.
Collision – Collision coverage pays for damage to your Caliber caused by collision with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers claims like hitting a mailbox, crashing into a ditch, driving through your garage door, crashing into a building and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance covers 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 things like damage from flooding, fire damage, hitting a deer and vandalism. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Dodge Caliber.
Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Liability coverages – Liability insurance will cover damage that occurs to other people or property. It protects you from claims by other people. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000.
Liability insurance covers things like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, funeral expenses, loss of income and medical services. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as much as you can afford.
Coverage for medical expenses – Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for expenses for prosthetic devices, funeral costs and rehabilitation expenses. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
When shopping online for insurance, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.
Affordable 2009 Dodge Caliber insurance can be found from both online companies and also from your neighborhood agents, so you should compare both to have the best rate selection. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
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