Confused by the sheer number of auto insurance company choices in Cape Coral? You’re not alone. You have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find the lowest price.
It is always a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates periodically because prices are rarely the same from one policy term to another. If you had the best price two years ago there may be better deals available now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the web, but I’m going to show you some guaranteed methods to buy auto insurance cheaper.
Auto Insurance Comparison Rates in Cape Coral, FL
When shopping for auto insurance there are multiple ways to compare rate quotes from local in Cape Coral, FLauto insurance companies. The recommended way to find the lowest rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be done in a couple of different ways.
- The first (and easiest) way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This form saves time by eliminating separate quotation requests for each company you want a rate for. One form submission gets you price quotes from all major companies.It’s the quickest way to get rates.
- A different way to get quotes online consists of going to the website for every company you want to comare to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, we’ll assume you want to compare Nationwide, Geico and GMAC. You would have to visit each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.
For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Cape Coral, click here.
Which method you use is up to you, but ensure you’re using identical coverage information for each price quote. If you have different values for each quote then you won’t be able to truly determine the lowest rate in Cape Coral. Quoting even small variations in limits can result in a big premium difference. And when comparing auto insurance rates, know that more quotes gives you a better chance of getting better pricing.
Don’t miss out on these eight money-saving discounts
Companies that sell car insurance don’t always publicize all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list both the well known as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance.
- Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
- Save with a New Car – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
- No Claims – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts as compared to frequent claim filers.
- Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up before your current expiration date. It’s a savings of about 10%.
- Driver’s Ed – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
- Auto/Home Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don’t profit that way.
Auto insurance 101
Knowing the specifics of auto insurance aids in choosing which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.
Coverage for medical expenses – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for prosthetic devices, surgery, funeral costs and EMT expenses. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Comprehensive auto insurance – This pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like damage from getting keyed, rock chips in glass and a broken windshield. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Liability coverages – Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability coverage protects against claims like bail bonds, court costs, structural damage and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. Florida requires minimum liability limits of 10,000/20,000/10,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against claims like crashing into a building, colliding with another moving vehicle, colliding with a tree, driving through your garage door and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your vehicle.
Since many Florida drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (10/20/10), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.
Even more information is located at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, find out which companies have the most complaints, find out industry alerts, and report car insurance fraud.
More quotes mean more savings
We covered many ideas to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, someone dropped full coverage only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate.
Insureds leave their current company for many reasons like being labeled a high risk driver, delays in responding to claim requests, not issuing a premium refund and even lack of trust in their agent. Whatever your reason, switching companies can be easier than you think.