Being forced to pay for high-priced auto insurance premiums can draw down your savings account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Due to the fact that there are so many insurance providers from which to choose, it is very difficult to locate the right auto insurance company.
You should make it a habit to price shop coverage once or twice a year because auto insurance prices are variable and change quite frequently. If you had the best price on 600SL coverage two years ago you may be paying too much now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we’re going to show you one of the easiest ways to save on auto insurance.
Low cost auto insurance prices
To find the best auto insurance quotes, there are several ways to compare rate quotes from companies that offer auto insurance in your state. One of the best ways to find the lowest Mercedes-Benz 600SL rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.
- The first (and easiest) way to get quotes for comparison would be an industry-wide quote request form (click to open form in new window). This form eliminates the need for multiple quote forms for each company. One form submission will return quotes from several companies.
- A more time consuming way to shop for auto insurance online consists of visiting each individual company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For example, we’ll assume you want to see prices from Auto-Owners, Safeco and State Farm. In order to get each rate, you would have to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in your area, click here.
- The old school method to do your price quoting is making phone calls or going to insurance agents’ offices. Doing it all online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the trained advice that only an agent can give. Some companies do allow you to obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent.
Compare rates however you want, just make sure you are using equivalent quote information with every price quote. If you enter unequal deductibles or liability limits you will not be able to determine which rate is truly the best. Just slight variations in coverage limits could throw off the whole comparison. Just keep in mind that comparing more quotes provides better odds of finding the best rates.
How to know if you need help
When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions might help in determining if your situation will benefit from professional help.
- Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
- Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
- Am I covered when driving a rental car?
- When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
- What discounts do I qualify for?
- Do I need motorclub coverage?
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Do I need an agent?
A lot of people just want to have an agent’s advice and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is that you can find cheap rate quotes and still have an agent to talk to. Supporting small agencies is still important in smaller communities.
After filling out this form (opens in new window), your coverage information gets sent to participating agents that can provide for your business. You won’t even need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to you. You can most likely find cheaper rates AND an agent nearby. If you need to compare prices from a specific company, feel free to visit that company’s website and complete a quote there.
In order to view a list of agents in your state to contact, find a good insurance agent.
Finding the right insurer shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Get answers to these questions too.
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
- Does the company have a local claim office?
- When do they do a full risk review?
- Do you work with a CSR or direct with the agent?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
After receiving good answers and a low price estimate, you may have just found a company that can insure your vehicles.
Car insurance 101
Knowing the specifics of auto insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverages available from auto insurance companies.
Insurance for medical payments
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for bills such as nursing services, surgery, EMT expenses, X-ray expenses and doctor visits. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Auto liability insurance
Liability coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property. It protects you from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see values of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use 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 can pay for claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage, bail bonds, pain and suffering and medical expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like rock chips in glass, theft, hitting a deer and hail damage. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Mercedes-Benz 600SL.
Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Most of the time your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Collision protection
This will pay to fix damage to your 600SL from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims such as colliding with another moving vehicle, rolling your car, sideswiping another vehicle and sustaining damage from a pot hole. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
