How to Insure your Mercedes-Benz 300SEL on a Tight Budget
If buying car insurance was fun, we'd do it as a recreational sport. But it's actually not a real enjoyable process for the majority of people and we always seem to end up paying too much. Cutting the check for each renewal on your Mercedes-Benz 300SEL might give you the same feeling.
Step One: Insurance Quotes
The antiquated method of shopping for car insurance included a high pressure visit to the office of your local insurance agent. Welcome to the 21st century!
Getting online rate quotes for a Mercedes-Benz 300SEL from all the major insurance companies is very easy and only requires you to enter your information once.
Simply click the link below to enter your information. Once complete, you can compare the returned rates and make a decision on which policy to purchase.
Quote Tip! In order to accurately compare rates for your 300SEL, it's critical that you use the same limits and deductibles for liability and physical damage coverages like comprehensive and collision. If you use different limits, you will not be able to accurately compare rates between carriers.
Step Two: Best Ways to Lower your 300SEL Insurance Cost
Once you have quotes in hand, you can then consider some of the other techniques for lowering your 300SEL insurance rates.
- If you need the extra performance that your Mercedes-Benz 300SEL gives you, then you'll have to pay extra to insure it. Higher performance cars tend to be more expensive to insure.
- Higher deductibles save money. If you can afford to pay a larger portion of a comprehensive or collision claim, you will pay substantially less for those coverages if you increase your deductibles to $500 or even $1,000.
- When repairing accident damage on luxury vehicles, body shops charge more because the replacement parts are more expensive. Everything from a fender to a tail light will cost more to replace so your insurance rates will be higher as well.
- Check your credit rating each year and address any problem areas. Higher credit scores mean lower car insurance rates.
- If you're a young driver, you will pay more to insure a 300SEL. There isn't anything you can do about your age, but rates will drop as you mature.
- The time it takes to complete a driver's safety training course could be time well spent. It could save you up to 10% off your car insurance rates.
- Speeding and other minor violations can impact your car insurance rates for up to three years. The increased cost can easily exceed the fine and court costs for the original ticket.
- Letting your car insurance expire without having new coverage in place is called a "lapse" and will cause your next policy premiums to be higher.
- Equipping your Mercedes-Benz with available safety features such as air bags and passive restraints allows you to take advantage of additional discounts.
- Renters will find they may be paying more for insurance as compared to homeowners. Owning a home can often get you a small discount on your car insurance.
- To keep your rates low, don't file excessive claims on your policy. Insurance is meant to cover large losses, not small damage that you can pay for out-of-pocket.
- Membership has it's privleges. If you're a member of a professional organization, check to see if your company offers discounts to its members. It can add up to 5% or more.
- Insurance companies pay attention to which vehicles are stolen the most, so if your car is frequently targeted by thieves, chances are good you will pay more for insurance if you live in certain parts of the country.
Step Three: Finalize your Policy Details
Purchasing an insurance policy is more than just clicking a button. You need to have funds available to make payment and you need to be sure that the coverages are adequate for your personal situation.
It's critical that your new policy starts the same day that your old policy ends. If you are cancelling mid-term, make sure there is no lapse in coverage before your new policy kicks in.
If you don't currently have a car insurance policy, make sure you have coverage in force before driving your Mercedes-Benz off the lot. But if you already have a policy, you will have coverage extended to your new car from your existing policy. Be sure to have a new policy ready to go if you are buying a new 300SEL. If you've never had car insurance or don't have a policy now, you won't have any protection on the vehicle until you add it to your policy.
The proof-of-insurance card that is required by state law to be carried in your vehicle can be printed out upon completion of your car insurance policy. An SR-22 filing may be required by your state's DMV if you've been convicted of a serious driving offense such as DUI, DWI or reckless driving. If this applies to you, make sure the car insurance company complies with the SR-22 requirement.
Car Insurance Resources
To do more research on car insurance, visit the Insurance Information Institute website.