Buying the most affordable North Platte auto insurance over the internet can seem to be problematic for consumers new to comparison shopping online. When there are so many companies in the marketplace, how can consumers possibly compare them all to find the cheapest available price?
Buying more affordable protection in North Platte is not that difficult. Essentially every driver who carries auto insurance stands a good chance to be able to find better rates. But Nebraska car owners must learn the methods companies use to price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.
How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in North Platte, Nebraska
Effectively comparing auto insurance prices can take time and effort if you don’t utilize the most efficient way. You can waste hours discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in North Platte, or you can stay home and use the internet for quick rates.
Many of the larger companies take part in a program where insurance shoppers only type in their quote data once, and each company then gives them pricing for coverage. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms to every company. To compare rates now click here to start a free quote.
The only drawback to getting quotes like this is you don’t know exactly which companies to get pricing from. So if you want to select individual companies to compare rates, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in Nebraska. Click to view list.
Whichever way you use, make sure you use exactly the same coverages and limits on every quote. If you compare higher or lower deductibles you will not be able to make a fair comparison in North Platte. Having just a slight variation in coverages may result in a large different in cost. And when price shopping your coverage, obtaining a wide range of quotes provides better odds of finding better pricing.
You probably qualify for some discounts
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you can get discounts to cut the cost considerably. Most are applied when you complete an application, but less common discounts must be manually applied before you will receive the discount.
- Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
- Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner can save you money because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
- Drivers Education – Have your child enroll in driver’s education if offered at their school.
- Claim Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Club Memberships – Belonging to certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on auto insurance.
- Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
Keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because you may think you could get a free auto insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way. But any discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.
To see a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Nebraska, follow this link.
Tailor your coverage to you
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique.
For instance, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
- Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
- Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
- What can I do if my company denied a claim?
- How much liability coverage do I need in Nebraska?
- What are the best liability limits?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form.
Specific coverages
Understanding the coverages of a auto insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for immediate expenses like chiropractic care, ambulance fees, nursing services, dental work and doctor visits. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover you and your occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Most of the time these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as hail damage, falling objects, damage from getting keyed and hitting a bird. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Auto liability
This coverage provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people in an accident. It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 100/300/100 which means a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as funeral expenses, pain and suffering, emergency aid and court costs. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy higher limits if possible. Nebraska requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.
Collision insurance
This coverage covers damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for claims like hitting a parking meter, sustaining damage from a pot hole and crashing into a building. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
For more information
Additional auto insurance information can be read on the Nebraska Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Nebraska consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, learn about specific coverages, and report car insurance fraud.