Feel like you have an expensive car insurance policy? Believe me, you’re not the only one.
Due to the abundance of insurance providers from which to choose, it can be challenging to pick the most cost effective insurance company.
Consumers should take time to compare rates once or twice a year since prices trend upward over time. Just because you found the lowest quotes for Sebring coverage a couple years back you can probably find a better rate now. There is lot of inaccurate information about car insurance out there, but in this article, you’re going to get some good information on how to lower your car insurance rates.
When shopping for insurance there are multiple ways of comparing price quotes from many insurance companies in your state. The easiest way to compare rates consists of shopping online. This can be done by using one of the methods below.
You can use whichever method you prefer to find lower rates, just try to keep identical quote information for each quote you get. If you compare mixed coverages it’s not possible to get a fair rate comparison. Quoting even small variations in coverages may result in a large different in cost. And when comparing insurance rates, know that comparing a wide range of rates will improve the odds of getting lower pricing. Some smaller insurers to not give price estimates online, so you need to compare price estimates on coverage from those companies, too.
When it comes to choosing the best insurance coverage coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions might point out whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Knowing the specifics of a car insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. These are the usual coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Collision coverage – This pays for damage to your Sebring caused by collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for things such as colliding with another moving vehicle, rolling your car, hitting a parking meter, backing into a parked car and driving through your garage door. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like damage from getting keyed, damage from a tornado or hurricane and vandalism. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Frequently your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Coverage for liability – Liability coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people in an accident. It protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as legal defense fees, bail bonds, repair costs for stationary objects and pain and suffering. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but consider buying as much as you can afford.
Insurance for medical payments – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for immediate expenses for funeral costs, pain medications, hospital visits and nursing services. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage