Paying for high-priced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your savings account and put the squeeze on your family’s finances. Comparison shopping is a smart way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.
Consumers have many car insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s a good thing to have a choice, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates and cut insurance costs.
You should make it a habit to get comparison quotes periodically because rates trend upward over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Starting right now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the proper way to lower your annual insurance bill.
Don’t overlook these six discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t necessarily list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we researched some of the more common and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.
- Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
- Multiple Vehicles – Having multiple vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can avoid accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Auto/Home Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
- Defensive Driver – Successfully completing a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings up to 30%.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.
For a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Seaford, click here.
You are unique and your auto insurance should be too
When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Every insured’s situation is different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions could help you determine if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.
- Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Delaware?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
- How high should my medical payments coverage be?
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
- What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
- Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
- Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Aren’t my neighborhood agents an option?
Some people would prefer to talk to a local agent and that is OK! The best thing about comparing rates online is the fact that you can find lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your information is transmitted to participating agents in Seaford who will return price quotes to get your business. You don’t have to leave your computer as quotes are delivered to your email. You can find the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.
Choosing an insurer shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- How long has their agency been in business in Seaford?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- How are they compensated?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- How are claims handled?
To view a list of agents in Seaford to contact, please click here.
After getting positive responses for all questions you ask in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an insurance company that can properly service your auto insurance policy. Just keep in mind once you purchase a policy you can cancel your policy for any reason so don’t think you’re contractually obligated to the auto insurance policy with no way to switch.
Additional auto insurance links
Additional detailed information is located at the Delaware Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, download brochures, and find disaster information.
The coverage is in the details
Knowing the specifics of a auto insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are typical coverages found on most auto insurance policies.
Auto collision coverage
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against things such as rolling your car, backing into a parked car and colliding with a tree. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
This pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like hitting a bird, hitting a deer, damage from a tornado or hurricane, vandalism and a broken windshield. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Coverage for liability
This will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for claims such as attorney fees, loss of income, repair costs for stationary objects and emergency aid. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as much as you can afford. Delaware requires drivers to carry at least 15,000/30,000/10,000 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.
Medical expense insurance
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses for things like ambulance fees, hospital visits, chiropractic care and X-ray expenses. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Due to the fact that many Delaware drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 15/30/10), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.
The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest
Affordable auto insurance is possible online as well as from independent agents in Seaford, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.
As you shop your coverage around, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped collision coverage only to regret that it was a big mistake. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.