Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Believe me, there are lots of people in the same boat.
Because there are so many auto insurance companies to choose from, it is hard for the average consumer to choose the lowest cost provider.
How to Compare Auto Insurance
Comparing auto insurance rates can take time and effort if you aren’t aware of the most efficient way. You could waste time driving to local insurance agents in your area, or you can stay home and use online quotes for quick rates.
Many popular insurance companies take part in a program that allows shoppers to enter their policy data once, and each participating company then gives them pricing based on the submitted data. This eliminates the need for quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.
To find out how much you’re overpaying now click to open in new window.
One minor caviat to using this type of form is you cannot specify which companies you will receive quotes from. So if you prefer to choose from a list of companies to compare, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in your area. Click to view list.
However you get your quotes, ensure you’re using apples-to-apples coverage information on every quote. If you compare different liability limits it will be next to impossible to determine the lowest rate for your Lincoln Town Car. Slightly different insurance coverages may result in a large different in cost. Keep in mind that having more price comparisons helps you find a better price.
Save $474 a year? Really?
Auto insurance providers like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all say the same thing about savings if you change your coverage to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.
All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver they prefer to insure. An example of a driver they prefer might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and chooses high deductibles. A driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and therefore will save when switching.
Drivers who don’t qualify for these standards will be charged higher premiums which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That’s the way insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.
That is why it is so important to get as many quotes as possible. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.
Lincoln Town Car insurance premiums are calculated by many factors
An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.
- Do you have enough liability coverage? – Your policy’s liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if ever you are found to be at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
- No coverage gaps is important – Letting your insurance expire is a guaranteed way to trigger a rate increase. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but not being able to provide proof of insurance might get you a license revocation or jail time.You may then be required to file a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department.
- Higher deductibles cost less – The deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive on Town Car insurance.
- Proper usage rating affects rates – The higher the mileage driven every year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Autos used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle. Incorrect usage on your Town Car may be wasting your money.
- Men pay higher rates – Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don’t assume that men are worse drivers. They both have accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI.
- With age comes lower rates – Teen drivers are known to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. Older insureds are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
- Multiple policies with one company can save – Most insurance companies will give a discount to insureds who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you may still want to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by buying auto insurance from a different company.
Don’t miss these discounts
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there are discounts available that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for before they will apply.
- Seat Belts Save – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class in high school.
- Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
- Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates on Town Car insurance than less cautious drivers.
- Defensive Driver – Taking part in a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Own a Home – Owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home shows financial diligence.
- Senior Discount – Older drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums on Town Car insurance.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will cut your premiums.
When might I need help?
When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether or not you might need professional guidance.
- Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
- If my Lincoln Town Car is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
- What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
- Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- Where can I get insurance after a DUI in my state?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.
In the end, you save
Throughout this article, we presented many ways to shop for Lincoln Town Car insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even discover the best prices are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
Lower-priced Lincoln Town Car insurance can be bought both online and with local insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
