Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are many consumers feeling the pinch from expensive car insurance. Many insurance companies vie for your insurance dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a provider to get the lowest rate
It’s important to compare prices every six months because prices trend upward over time. Just because you found the best price for Tacoma coverage two years ago you can probably find a better price now. Starting now, forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the best way to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.
Cutting your auto insurance rates is not rocket science. All you need to do is take a couple of minutes to compare rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.
Which method you use is up to you, but ensure you are comparing the exact same coverage limits and deductibles with every price quote. If you have mixed coverages it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison.
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you may find discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but some must be specifically requested before being credited. If you don’t get every credit possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But all discounts will help reduce the cost of coverage.
Insurance companies that may offer these discounts include:
Double check with each insurance company how you can save money. Savings may not apply in your state.
When it comes to choosing the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can aid in determining whether or not you will benefit from professional help.
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.
Comprehensive coverages
This covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as fire damage, rock chips in glass, hitting a bird, hail damage and damage from getting keyed. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim 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.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Toyota Tacoma.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Coverage for medical payments
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses for prosthetic devices, X-ray expenses, funeral costs, doctor visits and hospital visits. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Liability
Liability coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to people or other property. Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 100/300/100 that means you have $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as medical expenses, funeral expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and emergency aid. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.
Collision coverage protection
This pays for damage to your Tacoma resulting from a 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 coverage pays for claims like scraping a guard rail, backing into a parked car, colliding with a tree and rolling your car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.