Buying Car Insurance
Automobile insurance is an increasing expense for almost all
Americans. We can't afford to have it, and we certainly can't
afford to not have it. When researching car insurance companies
and comparing policies, it is a good idea to follow these easy
guidelines to get the most coverage for your insurance dollars.
Get discount car insurance
quotes from as many carriers as you can. Automobile
insurance rates may vary drastically depending on the model of
your car and the type of coverage you need. Consider as high a
deductible as you can reasonably afford, since higher
deductibles translate into lower insurance premiums. Review
quotes and policies carefully to make sure you are only paying
for coverage you really need. If you have homeowner insurance,
ask your agent if you are covered already for certain items you
might be charged again for on your auto policy.
After you have gotten quotes from different car insurance
carriers, it is usually a good idea to create a spreadsheet to
help you avoid comparing apples to oranges. Set up a scenario
with car repairs and medical expense to best compare the
coverage differences under real-life situations.
Once you have chosen the two least expensive automobile
insurance policies for the coverage you need, contact a
reputable body shop in your area for a referral. Automobile body
shops deal with insurance companies every day, and you want to
make sure the company you send your premiums to each month will
be responsive and fair if you have to make an insurance claim.
The body shop probably has a good insider opinion on how the
insurance company operates, how long it takes to get an adjuster
to view the damaged vehicle, how long it takes to get paid on a
claim, how fair the estimate was, were used parts requested
versus brand new parts and so on.
Trust me, a 10 minute talk with a reputable body shop manager
can reveal a lot of great information about an insurance company
and how they tend to handle their claims. A few dollars
difference in premium dollars to get coverage from a company
that handles their claims properly may save you a world of
hassle in the event of an automobile accident.