2011 Kia Sportage Insurance Rates

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your personal savings, especially in this economy. Shopping your coverage around is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to make sure you’re not throwing money away. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Farmers Insurance, Geico and Allstate persitently shower you with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to ignore the propoganda and do the work needed to find the best deal.

You should make it a habit to compare prices every six months since insurance rates fluctuate regularly. Even if you got the best price on Sportage insurance two years ago you can probably find a lower rate today. So forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the best way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you can follow these tips to find the best rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding the best rates is not that difficult. Vehicle owners only need an understanding of the most effective way to find the lowest price over the internet.

The fastest way that we advise to compare car insurance company rates is to know the trick most larger insurance companies participate in online systems to give you rate quotes. To get started, all you need to do is give them rating details such as deductibles desired, whether or not you need a SR-22, your education level, and if you have an active license. Your details is then submitted to many highly-rated insurers and they return cost estimate within a short period of time.

Can switching companies really save?

Consumers can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by Progressive, Allstate and Geico. All the ads make an identical promise about savings if you change to their company.

How does each company claim to save you money?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver they prefer to insure. A good example of a profitable customer could possibly be between 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote that hits that “sweet spot” receives the best rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential insureds who are not a match for this ideal profile will be charged a higher premium which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That’s why insurance companies can confidently make those claims.

That is why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest Kia Sportage insurance rates.

Your Kia Sportage insurance rate is a complex equation

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Policy add-ons can waste money – There are many extra coverages that you can buy on your car insurance policy. Coverages for personal injury protection, towing coverage and membership fees are some examples. They may seem like a good idea at first, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
  • Bad driving skills means higher rates – Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Careful drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Only having one moving violation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Drivers who get serious violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
  • One company can mean more discounts – Some companies will give a discount to insureds who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
  • Theft deterrents lower rates – Owning a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Theft prevention features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can help prevent your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Liability coverage is cheap – Liability insurance is the protection if you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for car insurance? Careers like real estate brokers, business owners and financial analysts are shown to have higher average rates because of high stress levels and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like farmers, engineers and homemakers pay the least on Sportage insurance.

Discounts can save BIG

Car insurance is not cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied when you purchase, but some may not be applied and must be inquired about before you get the savings. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less on Sportage insurance than their less cautious counterparts.
  • Drivers Ed for Students – Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
  • Discount for Life Insurance – Larger companies have lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
  • Federal Government Employee – Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off on Sportage insurance with certain companies.
  • Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount will bring down your overall premium however.

Companies that may have some of the above discounts include:

Double check with each insurance company how you can save money. All car insurance discounts might not apply in every state.

Will just any policy work for me?

When it comes to choosing coverage, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.

  • Why am I required to buy liability insurance?
  • Am I covered if I hit my neighbor’s mailbox?
  • Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of insurance coverage companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

Auto insurance coverage information

Knowing the specifics of your policy can help you determine appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverages available from insurance companies.

Collision coverages – Collision coverage covers damage to your Sportage resulting from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage pays for things like driving through your garage door, hitting a mailbox, crashing into a building, crashing into a ditch and hitting a parking meter. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive coverage – This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as damage from getting keyed, damage from a tornado or hurricane and hitting a deer. The maximum payout your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.

Medical payments coverage and PIP – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for things like EMT expenses, rehabilitation expenses, X-ray expenses and ambulance fees. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Kia Sportage.

Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Usually these limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Liability car insurance – Liability insurance provides protection from damage or injury you incur to people or other property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see limits of 100/300/100 that means you have a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.

Liability insurance covers claims like court costs, structural damage and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but buy higher limits if possible.

The bottom line

When shopping online for car insurance, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price.

Discount 2011 Kia Sportage insurance is available from both online companies and with local insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some car insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

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