Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are many people just like you. Many auto insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare auto insurance companies to discover the definitive best price available.
It’s a good habit to compare rates once or twice a year since insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. If you had the best deal for vanquish coverage on your last policy there may be better deals available now. Starting now, forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because it’s time to teach you the quickest way to find lower rates on auto insurance.
If you are insured now or need a new policy, you will benefit by learning to cut your premiums and still get good coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you is not that difficult. Consumers just need to learn the proper methods to compare company rates on the web.
Which Auto Insurance is Cheapest?
There are a variety of methods to shop for auto insurance, but there is one way that is less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can spend your afternoon talking about coverages with insurance agencies in your area, or you can utilize online quotes to get the quickest rates.
Many insurance companies enroll in a system where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company returns a competitive quote. This eliminates the need for quotation requests for every auto insurance company.
To compare rates now click here (opens in new window).
The single downside to pricing coverage this way is you are unable to specify which companies you want pricing from. If you prefer to choose from a list of companies to request quotes from, we have a listing of auto insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.
Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples deductibles and coverage limits for every company. If you enter higher or lower deductibles you can’t possibly make an equal comparison.
But I want to work with a local agent
A small number of people just want to get advice from a local agent and that is just fine! Good agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the best rates and still choose a local agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is transmitted to participating agents who will return price quotes to get your business. You won’t need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy!
Selecting an provider shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Some important questions to ask are:
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
Choose an insurance agent wisely
When searching for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies are either independent or captive. While both can do a good job, but it’s good to learn the differences because it can influence the selection process.
Captive Agents
This type of agents write business for a single company and examples are American Family, State Farm and Allstate. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. Captive agents receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When comparison shopping, we recommend you contact multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.
For a full directory of auto insurance agents, visit this page.
After getting satisfactory answers and an affordable coverage quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that will insure your vehicles.
Auto insurance coverages and their meanings
Having a good grasp of auto insurance helps when choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverage types found on the average auto insurance policy.
Liability
This will cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three 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 which means 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.
Liability insurance covers claims such as legal defense fees, bail bonds, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, loss of income and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but you should buy higher limits if possible.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for immediate expenses for things like chiropractic care, funeral costs and hospital visits. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Aston Martin Vanquish.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.
Comprehensive auto coverage
Comprehensive insurance covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like hitting a deer, vandalism, falling objects and rock chips in glass. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Coverage for collisions
This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Vanquish from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for claims such as damaging your car on a curb, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a mailbox and backing into a parked car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
