Shopping for low-cost Pulaski car insurance on the internet can appear to be overwhelming for vehicle owners who are beginners to quoting and comparing and buying car insurance over the internet. When there are so many insurers to choose from, how can vehicle owners efficiently compare all the different companies and get the lowest price available?
It is always a good idea to check car insurance prices occasionally because insurance prices change quite often. Just because you had the best rate on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower premium rate today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re about to learn how to quote online to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.
Ten discounts to earn lower Pulaski car insurance rates
Car insurance is not cheap nor is it fun to buy but companies offer discounts that can help lower your rates. Most are applied when you complete an application, but occassionally some discounts must be specially asked for in order for you to get them. If you are not receiving all the discounts you deserve, you could be saving more on your car insurance.
- Employee of Federal Government – Having worked for a branch of the government could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.
- Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car may earn a small discount compared to insuring an older model.
- Resident Student – Older children who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from home and leave their car at home can be insured at a reduced rate.
- Responsible Driver Discount – Drivers without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than less cautious drivers.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Drivers who elect to allow driving data submission to analyze their driving habits by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate could save a few bucks as long as the data is positive.
- Bundled Policy Discount – If you can combine your auto and homeowners policy with one insurance company you may save as much as 10 to 15 percent.
- Own a Home – Owning a home in Pulaski may trigger a policy discount on car insurance since home ownership requires a higher level of personal finance.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Purchasing coverage when you have multiple cars or trucks on one policy qualifies for this discount.
- Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up until you turn 25.
- Theft Deterent – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen with less frequency so companies will give you a small discount.
We need to note that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you’re out of luck.
Some of the insurance companies that may offer quotes with many of the previously listed discounts possibly include:
Double check with each company or agent which discounts can lower your rates. All car insurance discounts may not apply to policies in Pulaski. To find companies with discount car insurance rates in Pulaski, click here to view.
Tailor your car insurance coverage to you
When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.
Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover if your situation will benefit from professional help.
- Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Tennessee?
- Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.
The car insurance bait and switch
Companies like State Farm, Allstate and Geico constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. All the ads tend to make the same promise that drivers will save a bundle if you move to their company. But how can every company charge you less for auto insurance? This is the way they can do it.
Most companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that will not have excessive claims. One example of this type of insured might be described as a female over age 40, has a clean driving record, and drives a car with an anti-theft system. Any person that matches those criteria receive the lowest rate quotes and most likely will save some money.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px" src="https://www.carinsurancediy.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-48.jpg" alt="Tennessee insurance quotes” />
Consumers who do not meet this stringent profile may be forced to pay more expensive rates which usually ends up with the customer buying from a different company. The ad wording is “customers who switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s the way companies can truthfully advertise the savings.
Because of this risk profiling, it’s extremely important to compare often. It is just not possible to predict which company will have better prices than you’re paying now.
More information about car insurance
More information is available on the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website through this link. Consumers can read consumer alerts, learn about insurance regulations, and view agent and company licensing information.
Car insurance 101
Having a good grasp of a car insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Car insurance terms can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Liability – This can cover damage that occurs to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see liability limits of 25/50/25 which means a limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage pays for claims like attorney fees, medical services, structural damage, repair costs for stationary objects and legal defense fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. Tennessee requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/15,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.
Collision – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against things such as sideswiping another vehicle, rolling your car, hitting a mailbox and colliding with a tree. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Coverage for medical expenses – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for bills like ambulance fees, rehabilitation expenses, nursing services, surgery and doctor visits. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – This coverage provides protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many Tennessee drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (25/50/15), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Usually the UM/UIM limits are set the same as your liablity limits.
Comprehensive car insurance – This covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as damage from flooding, hail damage, falling objects, theft and vandalism. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Don’t give up on lower rates
When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, someone sacrificed liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
A few companies may not have rate quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies work with local independent agencies. More affordable car insurance is available from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Pulaski, so you need to compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from.
In this article, we covered quite a bit of information on how to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the lowest rates are with a lesser-known regional company.