You know you need reliable insurance, but how do you know when you’ve found the best car insurance available? Sure, there are obvious red flags that help you narrow down the field, like pushy sales agents and bad reviews; but how do you choose between several seemingly good options? Continue reading to learn the top three signs suggesting that you might have found the right car insurance for your needs.
1. The Policy Emphasizes Quality Instead of Prices
Quality always trumps price when it comes to insurance. You get what you pay for when it comes to coverage. That is not to say that you should overpay for coverage, but you should be leery of any insurer that touts its prices over its coverage. The right insurer is looking out for your best interests and will recommend complete protection for both your vehicle and your assets.
One of the biggest traps drivers fall into is the ‘low price trap’. This is a scheme devised by cut-rate auto insurers to attract customers based on extraordinarily low prices. They bait in drivers with low rates, while providing the absolute minimum of coverage. Many people find out too late that the coverage could leave them with a large liability bill and little or no coverage for a personal vehicle. Premium savings of just a few dollars per months ends up costing thousands in vehicle repairs, medical bills, and legal defense fees.
Instead, talk with your agent about the ways you can maintain complete coverage while still maximizing your overall value. For example, you can simultaneously lower your rates and maintain high limits of coverage by raising your collision deductible. Perhaps that means that you will pay $500 instead of $250 out of pocket to repair your vehicle after an accident. However, it could translate into tremendous savings. According to Bankrate, a young driver could save $200 or $300 per year on premiums simply by raising the deductible on a policy.
2. You Qualify for Special Discounts
Finding the best car insurance means uncovering special discounts you may not qualify for with other companies. Nearly all Wisconsin car insurance companies offer special discounts that help lower the rates of coverage. However, these discounts vary significantly from insurer to insurer. For example, some insurance companies may offer your teen driver a bigger discount if she is on the honor roll, whereas another may reward you with greater savings for taking a driver safety course. There are many different types of discounts that may apply to your individual circumstances, such as claims-free discounts and lower rates for bundling your car insurance with other types of coverage. The most important thing you can do is ask.
3. Your Agent Encourages You to Compare Rates from Multiple Agents
There are two types of insurance agents – those who work for insurance companies and those who work for their policyholders – in other words, independent insurance agents. When shopping for car insurance, it’s important to look for an agent who is loyal to you, and not the insurance company. An independent insurance agent can provide you with comparative quotes from multiple insurance companies and help you compare your options and select the coverage that is right for you. They can act as more of an advisor, than a salesperson.
If you’re in the market for the best car insurance you can find, let Carrigan Insurance help you find the company that’s right for you. Call or email us to set an appointment and we’ll get quotes from a number of insurance companies and help you choose that one that’s best for your particular situation.
