Wish you could get out of high-priced auto insurance? You’re in good company because there are lots of people in the same boat. With so many choices of insurance companies, it’s difficult to choose the best auto insurance provider.
Consumers should take time to check auto insurance prices quite often since prices are usually higher with each renewal. If you had the best rates last year you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.
Finding the best protection in Sheridan is quite easy. If you have insurance now or need a new policy, you can use these tips to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Colorado consumers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to compare company rates online.
Auto insurance quotes comparison
Comparing auto insurance rates can be a daunting task if you don’t know the most efficient way. You could waste time talking about coverages with local insurance agents in Sheridan, or you can utilize the web to get prices fast.
Most major companies belong to a marketplace where insurance shoppers submit their information once, and every company returns a rated price. This system prevents you from having to do quote forms for each company you want a rate for.
To submit your quote information now, click here to start a free quote.
The one downside to using this type of form is you don’t know exactly which carriers you will receive quotes from. So if you want to select specific insurance companies to compare rates, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in Colorado. View list of Colorado insurance companies.
Whichever way you choose to compare rates, ensure you are comparing exactly the same coverages and limits for each comparison quote. If the quotes have different deductibles it will be next to impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Sheridan.
Discount Sheridan auto insurance rates
Some companies do not list every available discount very clearly, so below is a list both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts that you may qualify for.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems could see savings up to 30%.
- Low Mileage – Low annual miles could be rewarded with cheaper rates.
- Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government could provide a small rate reduction with some auto insurance companies.
- Senior Citizen Discount – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
- Student Driver Training – Have your child enroll in driver’s education in school.
- Own a Home and Save – Just owning your own home can get you a discount because it requires a higher level of personal finance.
- Accident Waiver – Not necessarily a discount, but some companies like Allstate and Geico permit an accident without raising rates as long as you don’t have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Military Rewards – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower rates.
- Theft Deterent – Cars with anti-theft systems help deter theft and that can save you a little bit as well.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes have fewer accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
Don’t be surprised that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Even though it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it’s just not the way it works. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the amount you pay for coverage.
Popular auto insurance companies and some of the discounts are detailed below.
- American Family may include discounts for accident-free, defensive driver, early bird, air bags, and mySafetyValet.
- Nationwide may offer discounts for accident-free, anti-theft, multi-policy, defensive driving, family plan, easy pay, and Farm Bureau membership.
- MetLife policyholders can earn discounts including claim-free, defensive driver, multi-policy, accident-free, good student, and good driver.
- 21st Century has discounts for homeowners, driver training, early bird, automatic seat belts, 55 and older, and teen driver.
- Farmers Insurance discounts include youthful driver, switch companies, good student, pay in full, business and professional, multi-car, and homeowner.
- Allstate offers premium reductions for teenSMART discount, good student, FullPay discount, eSmart discount, and resident student.
Before you buy a policy, ask each company which discounts can lower your rates. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be available to policyholders in Sheridan. For a list of insurers who offer free auto insurance quotes in Sheridan, click here to view.
Auto insurance coverages 101
Learning about specific coverages of a auto insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on most auto insurance policies.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like vandalism, fire damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and hitting a deer. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
This protects you and your vehicle when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 25/50/15), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Insurance for medical payments
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for bills like rehabilitation expenses, surgery and nursing services. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Coverage for collisions
This will pay to fix damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against things such as driving through your garage door, hitting a parking meter, crashing into a ditch and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Liability insurance
This will cover damage that occurs to a person or their property in an accident. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which combines the three limits into one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability insurance covers things such as emergency aid, medical expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and loss of income. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying higher limits if possible. Colorado requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/15,000 but you should consider buying higher limits.
For more reading
Additional information is available on the found here. Colorado drivers can view a list of available companies, find a variety of consumer forms, view agent and company licensing information, and read industry bulletins.
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