How to Find the Best Car Insurance for You
The moment when you realize you’ve been in a car accident can be one of the scariest and most surreal moments of your life. The last thing you want to think about when in a car accident is how much this will cost you financially. After a car accident, you might be worried about personal injuries, injuries to your loved ones and any others involved in the accident, property damage, damage to your means of transportation, and managing the shock of it all. This moment in time is when it’s apparent why you put in the time and effort to find the best car insurance for you and your loved ones.
Finding the best car insurance can be intimidating, as there are many insurance companies to choose from and lots of different options when choosing your car insurance coverage. Comparing car insurance rates can be both daunting and confusing. Warren Allen has some expert advice on how to go about choosing the best car insurance for you.
Shop Around for the Best Rates
When shopping for the best car insurance for your personal needs, don’t just shop in one place. Consider shopping around and comparing what insurance rates are available from multiple insurance companies in your area. Don’t forget about the smaller insurance companies when comparing rates, as the smaller insurance companies often offer a great customer service experience, with easier and faster claims processing and lower insurance premiums.
When shopping for rates from various insurance companies in your area, not all multi-quote websites report prices for all insurance companies, so it’s a good idea to use a few different multi-quote websites to make sure you cover as many potential insurance companies as you can.
Not only is it a good idea to shop around for the best car insurance price quote, but it’s also a good idea to shop around after a major life event, such as getting married or moving to another state, as each life event will potentially change your insurance premium. It’s also a good idea to shop around for better pricing every few years to make sure you are always getting the best price available.
If you have had any major traffic violations, such as a DUI, traffic tickets, or major accidents, it’s best to wait a few years before shopping around for a better insurance premium, as it can take three to five years for the price increase caused from such things to drop off. If you have questions about your driving record and need legal advice or representation, give Warren Allen a call.
Consider the Customer Service Experience and Not Just Price
When choosing which insurance company to insure your vehicle with, price is often considered the most important factor by many. Though the price is a very important consideration, there are other factors to consider when picking which insurance company to go with. For instance, how responsive is the insurance company, how easy is it to file an insurance claim when it’s needed, and how user-friendly is their website when you need to access your information online.
Many larger insurance companies offer online insurance card access and downloadable mobile apps to easily access all of your insurance information on the go. These accessibility features make it much easier to manage the exchange of insurance information at the scene of an accident, and it adds the ability to file claims at your convenience online or through a mobile app or on a website, instead of having to wait until the insurance company’s business hours.
Look for Discounts
Many car insurance companies offer different discounts toward premiums, and all you need to do is ask for them and qualify based on which ones are available. If you’re an A student, for instance, ask for a good student discount. Do you have a clean driving record? If so, ask if they offer discounts based on a good driving history. If your car has certain features such as anti-theft devices installed or certain safety features like anti-lock brakes, that can qualify you for a discounted rate. All you need to do when shopping around is ask your insurance representative for any available discounts and see which ones they offer that you qualify for.
Another discount that you may not have thought of is a multi-policy discounted rate. If you have one or more family members who reside in your home, if you all purchase insurance through the same insurance company, that can qualify you for a discounted rate on each policy. If you have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance through the same insurance company as your car insurance, that too can qualify you for a discount for having multiple insurance policies with the same insurance company. The best way to find out which discounts may apply to your personal situation is to ask your insurance representative when requesting a price quote.
Know What You Are Paying For
When comparing premiums with different insurance companies, it’s important to make sure you’re comparing fairly, meaning you’re comparing the same level of coverage from Policy A and Policy B. When insurance companies quote a premium, it includes lots of categories that can vary in the dollar amount covered per incident and the type of coverage offered. For example, one insurance company may quote you $50 less a month, but their insurance premium may only include liability insurance and not collision insurance.
Each state has its own minimum requirements for a motorist to be considered properly insured—you can find Oregon’s requirements here—but one insurance company’s price quote may not be a bare-bones policy and may include extras such as rental vehicle coverage or roadside assistance. The out-of-pocket deductible may be more with one policy compared to the other, causing the premiums to be different. Always know what you’re being offered before considering one policy over another.
If you’re in an accident and have questions or need legal representation, reach out to your legal experts at Warren Allen.