Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy high-priced auto insurance? Trust us, you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse.
There is such a variety of insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s nice to have a choice, it can be more difficult to find the lowest rates.
The purpose of this article is to introduce you to how to get online quotes and some money-saving tips. If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to save some money using these techniques. Nevertheless, Nebraska drivers benefit from understanding the way companies price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.
Discounts can save BIG
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at quote time, but some may not be applied and must be asked for before being credited.
- Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver’s education in school.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
- No Claims – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less when compared with frequent claim filers.
- Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.
To see a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates in Nebraska, click here.
Will just any policy work for me?
When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help you determine if your situation could use an agent’s help.
- What are the best liability limits?
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Nebraska?
- Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
- Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.
Additional resources for Nebraska consumers
Much more information about auto insurance in Nebraska can be read on the website for the Nebraska Department of Insurance located here. Nebraska consumers can view a list of available companies, discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about a company, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
Other informative sites include QuoteClickInsure.com and this list of insurance agents in Beatrice.
Coverages available on your policy
Learning about specific coverages of your policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are the usual coverages offered by auto insurance companies.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px;" src="https://www.carinsurancediy.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-53.jpg" alt="Beatrice insurance quotes“/>
Collision protection
This will pay to fix damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for things such as crashing into a building, damaging your car on a curb, hitting a parking meter and rolling your car. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Coverage for liability
Liability coverage can cover damage that occurs to people or other property. It protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for things like legal defense fees, medical expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and loss of income. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but buy higher limits if possible. Nebraska requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should consider buying more coverage.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
This gives you protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many Nebraska drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/25 in Nebraska), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Frequently these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive coverages
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like fire damage, rock chips in glass, hitting a deer, theft and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Coverage for medical payments
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for bills like hospital visits, ambulance fees and rehabilitation expenses. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
More comparisons equals lower rates
When shopping online for auto insurance, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price.
In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to save on auto insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small mutual company. These companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like Allstate and Progressive.