Choosing the Right Auto Insurer
Your Choices
· Internet Quotes
· The 800 Guys
· State Farm and Allstate
· Agency Writers
· Last Resorts
FINDING A GOOD deal on an auto insurance policy isn’t easy these days, especially if you live in a high-cost state like New Jersey, New York or California. So when looking for coverage, be prepared to do some research. In some states, more than 200 companies write auto policies, so even if you get a half-dozen quotes, you’re only scratching the surface. (In others, you’ll have less than 50 to choose from.) And even once you find a company with great rates, there’s no guarantee you’ll get them. After all, you may not qualify for a simple reason, like a poor driving record. Worse yet, you may find that the great rate evaporates once your policy comes up for renewal in six months or a year.
So be on your guard. To lock in the cheapest deal, you may have to insure with a company you’ve never heard of and switch providers fairly often. Either way, it pays to shop around. Here’s a guide to the most efficient way to find a good deal.
Internet Quotes
The Web is a great place to start your search. You can get quotes both from the Web sites of insurers like Geico Direct and General Electric’s Electric Insurance and from services like InsWeb.
The 800 Guys Read more
How Much Auto Insurance Do You Need?
Coverage Types:
- · Bodily Injury Liability
- · Property Damage Liability
- · Personal Injury Protection
- · Uninsured Motorist Protection
- · Collision and Comprehensive
- · Extras
ONE TRIED AND true way to reduce your auto insurance premium is to hike the deductible on your collision coverage and skimp on your liability coverage. Sometimes this can make sense, but often it’s not worth the extra risk. In this section we’ll explain several of the coverages you’re likely to be offered as you shop for insurance (some are mandatory). Then we’ll help you figure out how much to carry of each type.
Bodily Injury Liability
This coverage, which is required in most states, compensates the driver of the other car and its passengers in the event you get into an accident. It also covers the passengers in your car. The main consideration here is protecting your assets against lawsuits that arise from auto accidents. “But I’m a careful driver,” you say. It doesn’t matter. You can get sued even if the accident is not your fault.
Bodily injury liability is sold in standard increments that designate both how much coverage you have per person in an accident, with an additional limit per accident. For example Read more
Life Insurance Needs
One thing you should do before shopping for life insurance is to calculate your life insurance needs estimate. This should include things like a few year’s salary, home mortgage, and future family education plans. Online life insurance estimates and quotes can really help you find out how much coverage you should buy, and also, how much it will cost!
You may also be surprised to find that you can find whole and term life insurance for over 65 years old. Insurers realize that Americans are living longer, even than they did 10 years ago, and rates and plans reflect this increase in life expectancy. Senior citizens, and those with health problems may want to look into final expense insurance quotes, as these are smaller plans that are designed to pay for funerals and other final expenses.