Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you there are lots of people in the same boat.
Popular companies such as Progressive, State Farm and Geico continually bombard you with TV and radio ads and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the corporate glitz and find the best price available.
Companies don’t always advertise all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.
Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it doesn’t quite work that way.
To see a list of companies offering car insurance discounts, follow this link.
It’s important that you understand the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for insurance coverage. Understanding what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in lower insurance coverage prices.
When it comes to choosing the best insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions could help you determine whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Companies like Allstate and Progressive regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the ads make an identical promise that you can save if you move your policy. How do they all make the same claim?
All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured could be over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.
Potential customers who are not a match for the “perfect” profile must pay higher premiums and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads state “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. This is how insurance companies can make those claims. This illustrates why it’s extremely important to get as many comparisons as possible. Because you never know which insurance company will fit your personal profile best.
Having a good grasp of auto insurance helps when choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverage types offered by auto insurance companies.
Coverage for liability – Liability insurance provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see limits of 25/50/25 that means you have a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000.
Liability can pay for claims such as medical services, structural damage and emergency aid. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
Comprehensive auto coverage – Comprehensive insurance pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from getting keyed and hitting a bird. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Medical payments and PIP coverage – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for bills for things like surgery, dental work, chiropractic care, funeral costs and prosthetic devices. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Collision coverages – This pays for damage to your C-Class from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers claims like driving through your garage door, hitting a parking meter, sideswiping another vehicle and crashing into a building. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
While you’re price shopping online, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
Low-cost 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class insurance is attainable both online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.
More tips and info about auto insurance is available at these sites: