Feeling guilty for buying overpriced auto insurance? Trust us when we tell you there are many drivers thinking the same thing. Lots of auto insurance companies contend for your insurance dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a provider and get the definite cheapest price
Many different elements are used in the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. Most are fairly basic such as traffic violations, although others are more obscure such as whether you are married or how safe your car is.It’s important that you understand a few of the rating criteria that help calculate your car insurance rates. If you know what impacts premium levels, this enables informed choices that may result in lower car insurance prices.
Car insurance companies do not list every policy discount in an easy-to-find place, so the following list contains a few of the more well known and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance.
As a sidenote, some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free car insurance policy, it just doesn’t work that way.
A list of companies and a partial list of their discounts can be found below.
It’s a good idea to ask every prospective company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts listed above may not apply in your area.
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Every insured’s situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions can aid in determining if you might need an agent’s assistance.
If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.
Understanding the coverages of a car insurance policy aids in choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. Car insurance terms can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find typical coverages found on the average car insurance policy.
Medical payments and PIP coverage – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for short-term medical expenses for funeral costs, hospital visits, X-ray expenses, doctor visits and surgery. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Comprehensive auto coverage – This pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as hail damage, damage from getting keyed, hitting a bird, damage from flooding and vandalism. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Collision – Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Equinox resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as colliding with another moving vehicle, colliding with a tree, crashing into a ditch and driving through your garage door. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of 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 important protection for you and your family. Usually these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Coverage for liability – Liability insurance will cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show liability 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 protects against things such as medical expenses, attorney fees and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but buy as much as you can afford.
Some insurance companies may not provide internet price quotes and these regional carriers sell through independent insurance agents. Budget-friendly insurance is possible from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, and you should compare rates from both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
In this article, we covered many tips how you can reduce 2017 Chevy Equinox insurance rates online. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. Some small companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than their larger competitors like Allstate or State Farm.
More detailed insurance information can be read at these sites: