Did budget coverage turn out to be an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me, there are many Highmore drivers thinking the same thing. You have so many auto insurance companies to pick from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates and find the lowest cost car insurance.
Shopping for more affordable coverage in Highmore is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you have a policy now or are looking for a new policy, you can use this information to get lower rates while maximizing coverage. South Dakota drivers only need to know the proper methods to compare rates online.
Don’t miss these five premium-slashing discounts
Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but some need to be specially asked for before they will apply.
- Theft Prevention System – Vehicles optioned with advanced anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10% off your .
- Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your policy upfront rather than spreading payments over time you could save 5% or more.
- Discount for New Cars – Buying insurance on a new vehicle can get you a discount because new vehicles are generally safer.
- Membership in Organizations – Affiliation with specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations is a simple method to lower premiums on car insurance.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you can combine your homeowners and auto policy and insure them both with the same insurance company they may give you a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
You can save money using discounts, but most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
To see insurers that offer many of these discounts in Highmore, follow this link.
Do I need special coverages?
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Every situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions might help in determining whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- When should I remove comp and collision on my vehicle?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
- Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
- How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
- Who is covered by my policy?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.
More information is available on the website for the South Dakota Division of Insurance. Click here for link. South Dakota consumers can download brochures, find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, and read state legal mandates and laws.
Coverages available on your policy
Learning about specific coverages of a car insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverages available from car insurance companies.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage – This gives you protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/25), 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.
Collision coverages – Collision insurance pays for damage to your vehicle from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers claims such as rolling your car, hitting a parking meter, backing into a parked car, scraping a guard rail and damaging your car on a curb. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Medical expense coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses like funeral costs, hospital visits, chiropractic care and EMT expenses. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Comprehensive protection – This coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like hitting a deer, fire damage, damage from getting keyed, rock chips in glass and damage from flooding. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability auto insurance – Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property in an accident. 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. Your policy might show policy limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use a combined limit which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage protects against claims like attorney fees, bail bonds and court costs. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but buy as much as you can afford. South Dakota state minimum liability requirements are 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.
Online plus local equals savings
In this article, we presented many ideas to lower your car insurance auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more you , the better your comparison will be. You may even find the lowest auto insurance rates come from a small mutual company. Smaller companies can often provide lower premium rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like Allstate or State Farm.
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and found out when filing a claim they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best cost while still protecting your assets.