Searching for the cheapest insurance for your Suzuki XL-7 can normally be an all-consuming task, but you can use our auto insurance buying tips to find lower rates.
There is a better way to shop for auto insurance so we’re going to tell you the best way to price shop coverage for your Suzuki and find the lowest price from local insurance agents and online providers.
It’s a good idea to shop coverage around yearly since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best price on XL-7 coverage on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the web, but with this article, you’re going to get the easiest ways to put money back in your pocket.
Discounts are basically free money
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but some must be inquired about before they will apply. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
- Memberships – Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on your policy on XL-7 coverage.
- Drive Safe and Save – Safe drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates on XL-7 coverage than less cautious drivers.
- Paperwork-free – Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy on their website.
- Sign Early and Save – Select companies give a discount for switching to them before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.
It’s important to note that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will cut the cost of coverage.
To see a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts, click this link.
Buying auto insurance from a local agent
Some consumers would prefer to buy from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Good agents can help determine the best coverages and give you peace of mind. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. Buying from local businesses is definitely important if you live in a smaller city or town.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is sent to local insurance agents who will compete for your coverage. You don’t have to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered to your email.
Insurance agencies come in two flavors
If you’re trying to find a local agent, there are two types of insurance agents from which to choose. Agencies are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive). Both insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning the differences since it may influence the selection process.
Independent Agents
Independent agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to contact at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices. Many write coverage with smaller regional carriers which may provide better rates.
Agency Captives
These agents can only write with one company such as Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are not able to shop your coverage around so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers frequently choose to use a captive agent mostly because of high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.
For a full directory of auto insurance agents, visit this page.
Deciding on an insurance agency requires more thought than just a low price. Here are some questions to ask:
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- How long has their agency been open?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
Upon receiving answers to your satisfaction to any questions you have and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found an insurance agency that will service your policy. Keep in mind policyholders can cancel a policy whenever you wish so don’t feel that you’re stuck with a specific agent for any length of time.
Auto insurance coverages
Learning about specific coverages of auto insurance can help you determine which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Suzuki XL-7.
Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as a broken windshield, hitting a deer, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, theft and vandalism. The maximum amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for short-term medical expenses for things like X-ray expenses, prosthetic devices, hospital visits, dental work and pain medications. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision coverages – Collision insurance covers damage to your XL-7 resulting from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for claims like driving through your garage door, hitting a mailbox, crashing into a building and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Liability insurance – This will cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability coverage protects against claims like medical services, emergency aid, structural damage and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but consider buying higher limits if possible.
Affordable insurance is out there
Cost effective Suzuki XL-7 insurance is definitely available on the web in addition to many insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.
Insureds leave their current company for any number of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, unfair underwriting practices and even high rates after DUI convictions. Whatever your reason, choosing a new company can be easy and end up saving you some money.
We just showed you many tips how you can reduce Suzuki XL-7 insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from a smaller regional carrier.
