Are you a victim of an overpriced insurance policy? Trust us, there are many consumers feeling the pinch from expensive insurance.
You have so many insurers to pick from, and although it’s a good thing to have a selection, too many choices makes it more difficult to find the lowest cost provider.
The quickest method to compare rates is to know the trick almost all companies provide online access to give rate comparisons. The only thing you need to do is take a few minutes to give details like how you use your vehicles, an estimate of your credit level, whether your vehicle is owned or leased, and the type of vehicles you drive. The data is automatically sent to insurance carriers in your area and they return rate quotes instantly to find the best rate.
Insurance coverage companies such as State Farm, Geico and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. They all seem to have a common claim that you’ll save big if you switch your policy. How does each company say the same thing?
All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer might be profiled as a mature driver, has no prior claims, and has excellent credit. A driver who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.
Potential insureds who do not match these standards will be charged a higher premium which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads state “people who switch” not “people who quote” save money. That’s why companies can truthfully claim big savings.
That is why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you may find discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.
It’s important to note that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck. But all discounts will help reduce the cost of coverage.
Companies that may have these discounts may include but are not limited to:
Double check with every prospective company how you can save money. Discounts may not be available in every state.
When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether or not you could use an agent’s help.
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.
Learning about specific coverages of car insurance can help you determine the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are the usual coverages found on most car insurance policies.
Liability coverage – Liability insurance will cover damage or injury you incur to other people or property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Another option is one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage protects against claims like pain and suffering, loss of income and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Subaru Outback.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for things like rock chips in glass, damage from getting keyed, falling objects and a broken windshield. The maximum payout 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.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for bills for pain medications, doctor visits, hospital visits and ambulance fees. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Collision coverage – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against claims like hitting a mailbox, crashing into a ditch, rolling your car, damaging your car on a curb and driving through your garage door. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
In this article, we presented some good ideas how to compare 2010 Subaru Outback insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the lowest premiums are with the smaller companies. Smaller companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like Progressive and Geico.
Cheap insurance is possible on the web and with local insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
While you’re price shopping online, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that they should have had better coverage. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
Additional auto insurance information is available on the following sites: