Lower Your 2011 Subaru Forester Car Insurance Rates

Scraping up a payment for overpriced Subaru Forester insurance can overdraw your savings account and put the squeeze on your family’s finances. Comparison shopping is a great way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket. There is such a variety of insurers to pick from, and although it’s a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more challenging to compare rates and cut insurance costs.

You should make it a habit to get comparison quotes once or twice a year since insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you found the best rates for Forester insurance two years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Starting now, block out anything you think you know about insurance because it’s time to teach you how to use the internet to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

The purpose of this article is to introduce you to how to get online quotes and some tricks to saving. If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. Drivers just need to know the proper methods to shop on the web.

Quick Auto Insurance Quotes

There are a variety of methods to compare 2011 Subaru Forester auto insurance prices but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You can waste hours talking to insurance agencies in your area, or you can utilize online quotes to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most of the best insurance companies participate in an industry program where insurance shoppers send in one quote, and every company returns a competitive quote. This prevents consumers from doing quotation requests for every auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here to start a free quote.

The one disadvantage to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify which insurance companies to get quotes from. If you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have a listing of companies who write auto insurance in your area. Click to view list.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you’re using the exact same coverages and limits on every quote. If you enter different limits and deductibles on each one it will be very difficult to decipher which rate is best.

Drivers who switch save $398 a year? Really?

Consumers constantly see and hear ads for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you change your policy.

But how can every company make the same claim?

All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a desirable insured might be between 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential customers who are not a match for the requirements must pay higher prices and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

This illustrates why drivers must get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest Subaru Forester insurance rates.

Take advantage of discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you complete an application, but a few need to be asked for before being credited. If they aren’t giving you every credit available, you’re just leaving money on the table.

  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
  • Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
  • Early Signing – Select companies give a discount for switching to them before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
  • Auto/Life Discount – Some companies give lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
  • Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

For a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts, click here.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there is no one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
  • I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
  • How do I buy GAP insurance?
  • Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
  • Should I bundle my homeowners policy with my auto?
  • Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

Car insurance coverages for a Subaru Forester

Knowing the specifics of auto insurance helps when choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are typical coverages found on most auto insurance policies.

Coverage for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses like ambulance fees, pain medications, EMT expenses and hospital visits. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Uninsured and underinsured 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 injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Subaru Forester.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Normally the UM/UIM limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Collision coverage protection

This will pay to fix damage to your Forester resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers claims like colliding with a tree, scraping a guard rail and hitting a mailbox. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive coverages

Comprehensive insurance covers 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 things such as fire damage, hail damage, damage from getting keyed and damage from flooding. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Liability

Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property by causing an accident. It protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit which combines the three limits into one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage protects against claims such as medical services, funeral expenses, legal defense fees, medical expenses and bail bonds. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Power to the consumer

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to find out they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

We covered some good ideas how to get a better price on 2011 Subaru Forester insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the best price on insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies. They may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like Geico and State Farm.

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