Have you had enough of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers.
Companies like GEICO, 21st Century and Progressive constantly blast consumers with fancy advertisements and consumers find it hard to ignore the propoganda and do the work needed to find the best deal.
It’s a good habit to do rate comparisons every six months since rates are variable and change quite frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price for 9-2X coverage a couple years back you will most likely find a better rate today. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the things you must know in order to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.
If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. Buying car insurance is quite easy. But vehicle owners must know the way companies sell online and apply this information to your search.
How much can you save with these six discounts?
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you can get discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Some trigger automatically at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be manually applied before they will apply.
- No Claims – Claim-free drivers can save substantially when compared with accident-prone drivers.
- Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you may save up to 20% off your total premium.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
- Drivers Education – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver’s education in school.
- Accident Waiver – Some insurance companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums so long as you haven’t had any claims for a set time period.
- Paperless Signup – Some insurance companies give back up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the cost of coverage.
But I don’t know anything about car insurance
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.
- Who is covered when they drive my Saab 9-2X?
- Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
- Am I covered when driving a rental car?
- Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
- Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
- Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Buying auto insurance from a local agent
Certain consumers prefer to talk to a local agent and that is OK! The best thing about getting online price quotes is you may find better rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from local agencies is important especially in smaller rural communities.
Upon completion of this quick form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to companies who will compete for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent to your email. You can find better rates AND an agent nearby.
Car insurance agents are either independent or captive
When finding an insurance agent, there are a couple of types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part.
When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company and some examples include State Farm, Allstate and AAA. 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 in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
For a complete listing of agencies, click here.
Deciding on an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
After receiving answers to your satisfaction and a good coverage price, you may have just found an insurance agent that can service your policy. Keep in mind consumers can cancel a policy at any time so never feel you’re contractually obligated to a specific agent for the entire policy term.
Auto insurance policy specifics
Knowing the specifics of a auto insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find typical coverages offered by auto insurance companies.
Coverage for liability
This provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people in an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/25 which means a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for claims such as loss of income, legal defense fees and bail bonds. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying higher limits if possible.
Medical expense insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills like funeral costs, doctor visits, EMT expenses, surgery and rehabilitation expenses. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision coverage
This coverage will pay to fix damage to your 9-2X resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims like hitting a parking meter, driving through your garage door and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This provides protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Saab 9-2X.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Frequently these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from flooding, hail damage, vandalism and fire damage. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
And the best car insurance company is…
You just read many ways to reduce Saab 9-2X insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from a small mutual company. Regional companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like State Farm or Progressive.
While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage and learned later that they should have had better coverage. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.
