No one likes having to buy auto insurance, especially when the cost is too high.
Lots of auto insurance companies contend for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to discover the definitive best price available.
Smart consumers take time to check auto insurance prices before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance rates change frequently. Just because you had the best rates for Sierra Classic pickup insurance on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance online, so by reading this article, you’re going to learn some excellent ideas to buy auto insurance cheaper.
If you have car insurance now, you should be able to save some money using this strategy. Finding affordable coverage is easy if you know what you’re doing. Nevertheless, consumers need to learn how big insurance companies sell insurance online.
More discounts equal less premium
Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both the well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
- 55 and Retired – Mature drivers may receive better auto insurance rates for Sierra Classic pickup insurance.
- Clubs and Organizations – Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for auto insurance for Sierra Classic pickup insurance.
- Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Service Members Pay Less – Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
- Bundle and Save – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you may save up to 20% off your total premium.
Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
To choose providers with discount auto insurance rates, click here to view.
But I want to work with a local agent
Some people just want to buy from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent.
After completing this quick form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to insurance agents who will compete to get your business. You never need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. You can find better rates and an insurance agent to talk to.
Picking a company shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
Insurance agents come in two flavors
When looking for local agents, there are a couple of types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents are contracted to one company such as AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. Captives cannot place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents are trained well on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agents do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part.
When comparing rates, we recommend you include at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection.
For a complete listing of auto insurance agents, click here.
Upon receiving reasonable responses to any questions you have in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an insurance agency that is a good match to properly insure your vehicles. Just keep in mind once you purchase a policy you can terminate your policy at any point so don’t feel that you’re stuck with the auto insurance policy for the entire policy term.
Which insurance is the “right” coverage?
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.
- Should I buy only the required minimum liability coverage?
- Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
- What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
- Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
- Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Auto insurance coverages 101
Knowing the specifics of auto insurance aids in choosing the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are typical coverages available from auto insurance companies.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses 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 doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Auto collision coverage
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Sierra 3500 Classic Pickup from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers things like driving through your garage door, scraping a guard rail, crashing into a ditch, sustaining damage from a pot hole and backing into a parked car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Liability auto insurance
Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to people or other property. 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 policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability coverage pays for claims like structural damage, medical services, bail bonds, legal defense fees and loss of income. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but you should buy as much as you can afford.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as hail damage, rock chips in glass, theft, hitting a bird and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Insurance for medical payments
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses for nursing services, X-ray expenses, rehabilitation expenses and surgery. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to 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
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to lower your GMC Sierra 3500 Classic Pickup insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the least-expected company. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.
Low-cost GMC Sierra 3500 Classic Pickup insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
When you buy insurance online, don’t be tempted to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are many occasions where an insured cut collision coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.
