Confused by the dozens of auto insurance company choices? You’re not alone. You have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a lot of work to find the best price.
Car insurance is not cheap, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but a few must be requested specifically before being credited.
Drivers should understand that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky. But all discounts will help reduce the cost of coverage.
A partial list of companies that may offer some of the above discounts include:
It’s a good idea to ask each company how you can save money. Savings might not be offered in your state.
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique.
These are some specific questions might help in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.
Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.
Collision – Collision coverage covers damage to your Xterra resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against things such as hitting a mailbox, colliding with a tree and colliding with another moving vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important. Most of the time these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Liability insurance – This coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 that means you have $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery. 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 loss of income, bail bonds and emergency aid. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.
Coverage for medical payments – Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills like prosthetic devices, pain medications and dental work. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Comprehensive coverages – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, fire damage and rock chips in glass. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Low-cost 2014 Nissan Xterra insurance is possible online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers may not provide online quoting and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.
Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, high prices, denial of a claim and unfair underwriting practices. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company is not as difficult as it may seem.
As you restructure your insurance plan, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, someone dropped liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.