We all have to have auto insurance to stay legal on the road. But finding the best car insurance coverage at the right price isn’t always easy. Those who don’t know a lot about insurance might not even have an understanding of how it all works. Thankfully, we’ve put together this brief guide to help you out.
Auto Insurance Basics
Before you can find the best car insurance coverage for your needs, you have to know what it is. Here are a few of the basics that everyone should know.
Car Insurance Definition
In the simplest sense, auto insurance is a special type of policy for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles. It provides financial protection against loss due to a collision, theft, fire, or other similar incidents. There are two parts to auto insurance: first-party and third-party.
Liability coverage is a third-party coverage required by law. This is a third-party coverage that covers the other person’s property damage and medical bills if you’re in an at-fault auto accident.
First-party coverage is completely optional. It is what handles your medical and auto repair bills if you’re in an accident or have to file a claim. Comprehensive coverage is for things like theft, fire, flood, hitting an animal, or other incidents outside your control. Collision coverage is for when something physically collides with your vehicle, such as your neighbor’s mailbox or someone else’s car. To have the best car insurance coverage, you’ll want to carry comprehensive and collision.
How Are Car Insurance Rates Calculated?
If you’re looking for the best car insurance coverage available, you’re likely interested in how companies calculate policy premiums. The truth is that there are a lot of factors that go into what you’ll pay for personal auto insurance.
Age is one of the biggest elements of how much you’ll pay. Young drivers under thirty often pay the most and those in their senior years generally pay the least for auto insurance.
People with clean driving records also usually get a large price break when purchasing the best car insurance coverage. This acts as an incentive to always follow the posted speed limits and be careful behind the wheel.
However, don’t be tempted to go for the lowest rate. Cheap car insurance generally means less coverage, which could cause you problems if you’re ever involved in a serious incident.
What is Full Coverage Insurance?
When attempting to understand insurance jargon, you’ll probably hear terms that you might not always understand. One question a lot of people have is about full coverage insurance. Essentially, having full coverage insurance just means that you carry comprehensive and collision on your personal auto policy.
Is Full Coverage Car Insurance Required?
The short answer to this question is no. By law, you must carry liability car insurance, which pays for the other person’s damages if you’re in an at-fault accident. The government doesn’t care whether you get your car fixed, which is what comprehensive and collision do.
However, if you still have a loan on your car, there’s a good chance you’re required to carry full coverage car insurance. Most finance companies have it written into their contract that you agree to have this to protect their investment. The reason behind this is so that they can get repairs done if your vehicle is ever repossessed with damage. But, even if you’ve paid off your loan, it is still a wise idea to have in case you’re ever in an accident.
How to Find Cheap Full Coverage Auto Insurance
The basic fact is that comprehensive and collision cost more than liability alone. This is due to the added expense the insurance company has to pay out if you’re ever in an accident. Makes sense, right?
Finding affordable premiums really starts with shopping around for full coverage insurance quotes. Be sure to check a few different carriers to find the rate that gives you the maximum amount of coverage within your budget.
How to Get Auto Insurance
Buying the best car insurance coverage is usually a lot easier than most people realize. Make a decision on a few different companies and get in touch with their sales team. This can be by stopping by a neighborhood insurance agency, filling out a form online, or placing a telephone call.
From there, they’ll ask you a series of questions about your vehicle, driving history, and other relevant factors. Some companies also require a credit check and a motor vehicle report to receive auto quotes. It never costs anything to get a quote.
Once you have several insurance quotes, you can make a comparison to find the best car insurance coverage. Look for those that offer you the maximum amount of coverage for the best price. Notice that this does not necessarily mean the cheapest, as going with a lower rate might cause you to skip out on quality.
Can You Get Auto Insurance Quotes Online?
Absolutely! Most insurance companies understand that their customers are busy. Nobody has time to stop by a local agency for an appointment. That’s why they make it easy to buy the best car insurance coverage via their website, any time of day or night. Some even give you the option of seeing multiple different car quotes at once. This allows you to form an auto insurance quotes comparison on the same screen.
How Much is Car Insurance?
This is one of those questions that we can’t answer in a simple blog post. Your premium rates for the best car insurance coverage depend on factors. For example, who you are, what you drive, and how safe you are behind the wheel. Thus, quotes vary widely from one person to another.
The best way to determine this is to get car insurance quotes from several companies. Then you can see for yourself who has the lowest rate with the most amount of coverage.
How Does Car Insurance Work?
Generally, the car insurance process works like this. First, you contact several companies to get quotes. Then you compare them for value and overall cost to find the best car insurance coverage. When you find one that meets your needs, you fill out an application and pay a premium for coverage. This can be monthly or in one lump sum every six months.
If you get into an accident that is your fault, you call your insurance company’s claims telephone number. You tell them what happened and give them the information for the other person. Next, they get in touch with that other driver to find out the cost of vehicle damage, medical bills, or whatever else is necessary. If you have enough coverage, they then pay the bills. If not, your insurance company pays out the maximum limit and you’re left with the rest to pay out-of-pocket.
For those that have full coverage insurance, your carrier also gives you instructions on how to get your vehicle repaired. They’ll set up a time for an adjuster to assess the damages and write you a repair estimate. You choose a body shop and the auto damage adjuster writes them a check, minus your deductible amount. When the repairs are complete, you pay your deductible directly to the repair company.
The Best Auto Insurance Companies
If you’re looking for the best auto insurance companies to get quotes from, we’ve put together a quick list for you. These are the top carriers for their reasonable rates and superior customer service. If you’re looking for the best car insurance coverage, try one of these on our list.
GEICO
Some of the best car insurance coverage reviews put GEICO near the top for customer service and support. This insurer is one of the largest in the nation and widely known for its creative marketing campaigns.
GEICO Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.geico.com, 1-800-207-7847.
AAA Auto Insurance
American Automobile Association (AAA) is a very popular car insurance company. They are a subsidiary of the car club of the same name, which features emergency roadside service and towing. If you’re looking for the best car insurance coverage, this is a good option.
AAA Contact Information: www.aaa.com, 1-800-885-8919
Progressive Auto Insurance
Deemed as one of the best car insurance coverage options out there, Progressive offers affordable rates and high reviews for their claims service. In addition to cars, they also insure motorcycles, boats, RVs, and more. They claim to have the best car insurance coverage and many people agree.
Progressive Car Insurance Contact Information: www.progressive.com, 1-800-776-4737
Direct Auto Insurance
If you have a few tickets or accidents on your record, you might consider getting the best car insurance coverage with Direct Auto Insurance. They specialize in low rates for higher-risk drivers.
Direct Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.directauto.com, 1-877-463-4732
USAA Auto Insurance
To qualify for USAA Car Insurance, you have to be either a military service member or directly related to one. Most people know this San Antonio, Texas auto insurance company for lower rates and exceptional customer service.
USAA Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.usaa.com, 1-800-531-8722
State Farm Car Insurance
As one of the largest insurers in the nation, State Farm is a trusted name for quality car insurance coverage. Generally, policyholders work with a local agent to find the best policy for their needs. However, you can call their hotline or visit their website to get a direct recommendation for a neighborhood agency.
State Farm Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.statefarm.com, 1-800-782-8332
GoAuto Insurance
One relative newcomer to the auto insurance market is GoAuto Insurance. Like some others on this list, they generally cater to at-risk drivers who need the lowest premiums possible. While this approach isn’t always the best car insurance coverage, it is affordable.
GoAuto Insurance Contact Information: www.goautoinsurance.com, 1-888-566-5505
State Auto Insurance
State Auto Insurance is a lesser-known company, but they have been around for a few decades. They have a favorable Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and many people who use them enjoy their service and rates. In fact, they rank as one of the best car insurance coverage options for budget drivers.
State Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.stateauto.com, 1-833-724-3577
Infinity Auto Insurance
Infinity Auto Insurance is a subsidiary of Kemper Insurance. They offer quality coverage for businesses who need commercial auto insurance. Those looking for personal auto insurance get directed back to the parent company, Kemper.
Infinity Car Insurance Contact Information: www.infinityauto.com, 1-800-INFINITY
Fiesta Auto Insurance
Founded in 1999, Fiesta Auto Insurance is a brokerage firm with over forty locations nationwide. They are not actually an insurance company themselves. Instead, they work with other carriers to help drivers get the best car insurance coverage at a reasonable price. They also tout themselves as being one of the few Spanish bilingual insurance teams in the country.
Fiesta Auto Insurance Contact Information:www.fiestainsurance.com, 1-866-884-6015
Met Life Auto Insurance
As one of the original insurance companies in the United States, Met Life has been around to help individuals protect themselves financially since 1863. Now, they are one of the best car insurance coverage options for safe drivers.
Met Life Auto Insurance Contact Information:www.metlife.com, 1-800-638-5433
Safe Auto Car Insurance
If you’re looking for affordable car insurance, you might like the options Safe Auto car insurance has to offer. Generally, most people consider them a low-cost provider for coverage across the United States and only offer state minimum liability insurance limits. Again, it might not be the best car insurance coverage for financial protection, but it is a good option.
Safe Auto Car Insurance Contact Information: www.safeauto.com, 1-800-723-3288
Allstate Auto Insurance
If you were to list out the best car insurance companies in the nation, the list would likely include Allstate. They are one of the bigger companies with agencies in nearly every community. To get an auto insurance quote, visit their website, or contact a local agent.
Allstate Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.allstate.com, 1-877-366-1607
Kemper Auto Insurance
Kemper is less known than some other options on this list, but they are one of the major insurers in the country. They usually work directly with brokers, who sell auto insurance policies to individual people. Find a local agent in your city via their website or by calling their toll-free number.
Kemper Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.kemper.com, 1-800-456-0448
Farm Bureau Auto Insurance
Farm Bureau auto insurance has been around for nearly a hundred years. Originally designed for the agriculture industry, they now offer quality car insurance coverage to everyone. Find your neighborhood agent via their website or telephone line.
Farm Bureau Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.fbfs.com,1-877-632-2524
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance
You probably already know them from their catchy commercials featuring the Statue of Liberty or an emu. Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance is one of the more popular car insurance companies out there right now. Unfortunately, they typically only cover those with good driving histories.
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Contact Information:www.libertymutual.com, 1-800-290-7933
Nationwide Auto Insurance
You already know their jingle. Nationwide is on your side with affordable auto insurance coverage. Whether you need basic liability or something more, this highly popular insurance company has what you’re looking for.
Nationwide Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.nationwide.com, 1-800-421-3535
AARP Auto Insurance
Designed specifically for seniors, you must be over the age of fifty to qualify for AARP auto insurance. This is designed to help give seniors the price break they need and reward decades of safe driving. They’re managed by their parent company, The Hartford.
AARP Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.thehartford.com, 1-888-687-2277
Costco Auto Insurance
Another option if you’re concerned about the budget is Costco auto insurance. Yes, we’re talking about the same chain warehouse club where you buy discount dog food and rotisserie chickens in bulk. They actually offer members pretty significant savings on car insurance, so it is worth checking out if you already shop there.
Costco Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.costco.com
The General Auto Insurance
Another excellent budget auto insurance company for those who need state minimum liability coverage with no frills is The General. This is generally an ideal choice for those who are looking for super cheap car insurance and don’t care about overall protection.
The General Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.thegeneral.com, 1-866-519-7422
American Family Auto Insurance
While it is available in a select few states, American Family Insurance is still one of the larger car insurers in their region. In addition to auto insurance, they also offer home, life, motorcycle, and boat insurance.
American Family Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.amfam.com, 1-800-692-6326
Farmers Auto Insurance
Another national insurance chain that most people love is Farmers Insurance. This is another company that primarily utilizes individual agencies, so it is worth looking into finding one in your community versus signing up online.
Farmers Auto Insurance Contact Information: www.farmers.com, 1-888-327-6335
What is the Cheapest Car Insurance?
One question a lot of people ask is, who has the cheapest car insurance? Sadly, this is not a question that you can answer without knowing a ton of different pieces of information.
While some companies claim to have cheap auto insurance, the truth is that there are a lot of factors. It really is your age, driving history, type of vehicle, and credit that determine your rates.
To find the best car insurance coverage rates, make sure you don’t have any tickets or accidents on your record. And choose a vehicle that isn’t super brand new or expensive to insure. Both of these factors easily help you find affordable car insurance.
Auto Insurance Near Me – Finding the Best Car Insurance Coverage Locally
Are you searching the web for car insurance near me? The truth is that finding a local agency is often easier than you might think. Ask friends and family for their recommendations first. Then start keeping your eyes open in your neighborhood. There’s a good chance you pass by an agent’s office in a strip mall or office complex on a daily basis.
Best Car Insurance Coverage – What Do You Think?
After reading this blog post, we hope you have a better understanding of how to find the best car insurance coverage. However, we would love to hear from you about a couple of things.
Do You Have Car Insurance?
Most people have car insurance coverage to stay legal on the road. However, the option to choose liability only or full coverage is often personal. This is an important part of finding the best car insurance coverage.
Which Car Insurance Do You Have?
Finding the best car insurance coverage starts with looking for a quality company. We would love to hear which carrier is your favorite and why.
Have you had to use your car insurance?
Getting into an accident isn’t fun for anyone. If you’ve had to use your car insurance, you know how the claims process can be. Furthermore, you’ve probably learned how well the other person’s company handled the overall claim. Let us know how this went and why you’re either happy or dissatisfied with the auto insurance companies you dealt with. How well a company works with you when you file a claim is a key indicator of the best car insurance coverage.
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