Overwhelmed by the dozens of car insurance choices? Many other drivers are as well. You have so many options available that it can quickly become a lot of work to compare prices.
Pricing affordable protection is quite easy. Essentially everyone who carries auto insurance stands a good chance to be able to reduce their rates. But drivers must understand how companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.
The fastest way that we advise to compare insurance rates in your area is to know the fact most larger insurance companies will pay a fee to compare rate quotes. The one thing you need to do is take a few minutes to give details including daily mileage, if you are currently licensed, the type of vehicles you drive, and whether you have decent credit. That information is then submitted to multiple auto insurance providers and you get price estimates within a short period of time.
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but companies offer discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for in order for you to get them.
Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will cut the cost of coverage.
A partial list of companies that may offer these discounts are:
Before buying, ask all companies you are considering what discounts are available to you. Savings might not apply in every state.
When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Every insured’s situation is different.
Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.
If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.
Learning about specific coverages of a insurance policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Collision – This coverage pays for damage to your ELR resulting from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for things like crashing into a building, damaging your car on a curb, colliding with a tree and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Cadillac ELR.
Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Medical payments and PIP coverage – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for expenses for hospital visits, nursing services, pain medications and ambulance fees. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Coverage for liability – This provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have liability limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see a combined single limit or CSL which limits claims to one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage pays for things such as legal defense fees, bail bonds and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford.
Comprehensive auto coverage – This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hail damage, theft, damage from flooding and hitting a bird. The highest amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.