Are you burned out from robbing Peter to pay Paul to pay auto insurance each month? You have the same problem as the majority of other drivers in Kansas. Companies like Progressive, State Farm and Geico all promote huge savings with TV and radio ads and it is challenging if not impossible to separate fact from fiction and take the time to shop coverage around.
It is always a good idea to check auto insurance prices yearly because insurance prices go up and down regularly. Even if you got the lowest rates a couple years back you can probably find a better rate quote now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to one of the best ways to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.
Many insurance companies give pricing on their websites. The process is easy for anyone because it’s just a matter of typing in your coverage information as requested by the quote form. When the form is submitted, the company’s rating system will obtain your driving record and credit report and generates a price. Quoting online makes it a lot easier to compare rates but having to visit multiple sites and type in the same data is monotonous and tiresome. Unfortunately, it is important to perform this step if you want to get the lowest possible prices on auto insurance.
A quicker way to compare rates uses one simple form that obtains quotes from a bunch of companies at once. It saves time, requires much less work on your part, and makes rate comparisons much more enjoyable. Once the form is submitted, it is rated and you are able to buy any one of the quotes that you receive.
If a lower price is quoted, you can click and sign and purchase coverage. It takes 15 minutes at the most and you will know how your current rates stack up.
To save time and find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and fill out the form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you duplicate your coverages identical to your current policy. Doing this guarantees you will receive a price comparison for the exact same coverage.
Auto insurance policy discounts
Car insurance companies don’t always advertise all available discounts very well, so here is a list both the well known and also the more inconspicuous discounts that you can inquire about if you .
- Discounts for Federal Employees – Having worked for a branch of the government could provide a small rate reduction with a few auto insurance companies.
- Military Deployment Discount – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better premium rates.
- Claim Free – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims have much lower rates when compared with insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Homeowners Savings – Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs optioned with advanced anti-theft systems help deter theft and that can save you a little bit as well.
- Accident Forgiveness Coverage – but some insurance companies may permit one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
- Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Taking part in a class that teaches defensive driving techniques is a good idea and can lower rates depending on where you live.
You should keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck. But any discount will definitely lower your policy premium.
To see insurance companies that provide some of the discounts listed above in Kansas, click here.
Much more information about auto insurance in Kansas can be read on the located here. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, learn about insurance regulations, and discover disciplinary actions.
Auto insurance policy coverages
Having a good grasp of auto insurance can be of help when determining which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverage types found on the average auto insurance policy.
Collision protection
This coverage pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for things like sustaining damage from a pot hole, crashing into a building, driving through your garage door and backing into a parked car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
This protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your vehicle.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/10 in Kansas), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently these limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Comprehensive auto coverage
Comprehensive insurance covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as hitting a bird, damage from a tornado or hurricane, a broken windshield and hitting a deer. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses for things like dental work, pain medications, X-ray expenses, prosthetic devices and chiropractic care. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability
Liability coverage will cover damage that occurs to other’s property or people in an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see policy limits of 100/300/100 that translate to $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage protects against things such as legal defense fees, structural damage, funeral expenses and loss of income. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. Kansas requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/10,000 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
Keep this in mind
Cheaper auto insurance is possible on the web and from local agencies, so you need to with both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers do not provide online rate quotes and many times these small insurance companies only sell coverage through local independent agents.
When getting , do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.