Have you fallen victim to high-priced auto insurance? Believe me, there are lots of people in the same boat. With consumers having so many insurance companies to choose from, it is hard for the average consumer to choose the lowest price insurer.
Car insurance companies don’t always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so we break down some of the more common and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it doesn’t quite work that way.
For a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts, click here.
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether you could use an agent’s help.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
A small number of people would rather buy from a local agent and that is OK! Educated insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you can get lower rates and still choose a local agent.
Once you complete this quick form, the quote information is sent to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your business. You won’t need to leave your house since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier!
Selecting an provider requires more thought than just the price. These questions are important to ask:
If you wish to view a list of agents in your state to contact, visit this site.
Upon getting answers to your satisfaction to these questions and an affordable coverage quote, most likely you have located an insurer that is a good match to provide auto insurance coverage.
Having a good grasp of your auto insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. These are typical coverage types available from auto insurance companies.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Saturn Outlook.
Due to the fact that many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Auto liability – This coverage will cover damage that occurs to a person or their property. It protects YOU against claims from other people. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability coverage protects against things like structural damage, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, loss of income and medical expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as much as you can afford.
Comprehensive protection – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as damage from getting keyed, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, fire damage and vandalism. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Medical expense coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses such as ambulance fees, chiropractic care, X-ray expenses, rehabilitation expenses and pain medications. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision coverage – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for things like backing into a parked car, colliding with a tree and crashing into a ditch. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
We covered a lot of techniques to lower your Saturn Outlook insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a small local company. Regional companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.
The cheapest Saturn Outlook insurance is definitely available on the web as well as from independent agents in your state, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.