Are you a victim of high-priced car insurance? Trust us when we tell you there are lots of people in the same boat. Companies like State Farm, Progressive and Geico all claim big savings, bombarding you with advertising and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.
Car Insurance Comparison Rates in Pendleton, OR
Getting better car insurance pricing can be relatively painless. Just spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.
- The most efficient way to get quotes for comparison is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This method prevents you from having to do separate quote forms for each company. Completing one form will return quotes from several companies.
- A more time consuming way to obtain and compare quotes online is going to the website for each individual company and complete a new quote form. For sake of this example, let’s assume you want to compare rates from Liberty Mutual, Farmers and Allstate. To get each rate you have to visit each site to input your insurance information, and that’s why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to insurance companies in Pendleton, click here.
Whichever way you use, be sure to compare apples-to-apples coverages for every company. If you are comparing different values for each quote it will be impossible to determine the best price in Pendleton.
Companies offer discounts so take them!
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, buy you may qualify for discounts to reduce the price significantly. Some discounts apply automatically at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before they will apply. If you don’t get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.
- Homeowners Pay Less – Owning a house in Pendleton may trigger a car insurance policy discount because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
- Passive Restraints – Factory air bags can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
- No Charge for an Accident – Certain companies allow you one accident without raising rates if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
- Low Mileage – Driving fewer miles could qualify for better rates on cars that stay parked.
- Paperwork-free – A few companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up online.
- Anti-theft Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
- New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
- Bundle and Save – If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you may save 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way. But all discounts will reduce your overall premium however.
For a list of insurers with discount car insurance rates in Pendleton, follow this link.
Do I just need basic coverages?
When it comes to choosing coverage, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions may help highlight if you would benefit from professional advice.
- Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
- What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
- Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Oregon?
- Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
- How much liability coverage do I need in Oregon?
- Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
- When should I not file a claim?
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.
Car insurance coverages and their meanings
Learning about specific coverages of car insurance can be of help when determining appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the usual coverages found on the average car insurance policy.
Medical expense coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for things like ambulance fees, pain medications, prosthetic devices, rehabilitation expenses and dental work. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Collision protection
Collision coverage covers damage to your vehicle caused by collision with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against things such as driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car and colliding with a tree. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.
Liability coverages
Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property by causing an accident. It protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show policy limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined limit that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability can pay for claims like emergency aid, attorney fees and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Oregon state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/20,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Due to the fact that many Oregon drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 25/50/20), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Comprehensive protection
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as hail damage, damage from flooding, theft, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Additional car insurance information is located on the website for the Oregon Insurance Division through this link. Oregon drivers can file complaints about a company, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and learn about specific coverages.
Additional helpful sites include III.org’s auto insurance page and this page where you can research Pendleton insurance agents.