I can’t think of anyone who likes paying for insurance, especially when the prices are way too high.
Popular companies such as State Farm and Geico promote their brand names with catchy ads and consumers find it hard to avoid their marketing magic and find the best price available.
If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to save some money using these techniques. Finding the best rates is not that difficult. But vehicle owners need to have an understanding of how companies market insurance on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.
Comparing car insurance rates can be exhausting if you don’t understand the most efficient way. You can waste a few hours (or days) talking about coverages with local insurance agents in your area, or you can utilize online quotes to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
All the larger companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to complete one form, and each participating company returns a competitive quote based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating form submissions to each company.
To enter your information into the quoting system, click here to open in new window.
One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is you can’t choose which providers to receive prices from. If you prefer to choose individual companies to compare, we have a page of companies who write car insurance in your area. View list of insurance companies.
It’s up to you which method you use, but double check that you are using nearly identical coverage information for every company. If you have unequal deductibles or liability limits you will not be able to truly determine the lowest rate. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that more quotes helps locate better pricing.
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there are discounts available to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you purchase, but some discounts are required to be asked about before they will apply.
Don’t be shocked that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. If you do the math and it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Large insurance companies and a selection of discounts are included below.
Double check with every company the best way to save money. Savings may not be available in every state. To find insurers with discount rates, click here.
When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Every insured’s situation is different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions could help you determine whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of insurance coverage companies in your area.
Knowing the specifics of car insurance aids in choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find typical coverage types available from car insurance companies.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This provides protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage covers damage to your M3 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 coverage pays for claims such as scraping a guard rail, sideswiping another vehicle and colliding with a tree. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.
Liability coverage
Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property that is your fault. Liability coverage has three 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 25/50/25 that means you have a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as bail bonds, emergency aid, medical services and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as much as you can afford.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
This coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like a broken windshield, damage from getting keyed, damage from flooding and hitting a deer. The maximum amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Medical expense insurance
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for bills such as pain medications, dental work and chiropractic care. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available and may carry a deductible