10 Discounts Yakima Drivers Forget when Quoting Auto Insurance

Shopping for the most affordable Yakima auto insurance online can seem to be problematic for consumers not familiar with buying insurance on the web. Because there are so many online companies available, how can you possibly compare every one to find the lowest rates?

You should take the time to compare rates periodically since rates go up and down regularly. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price a couple years back the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Don’t believe everything you read about auto insurance online, so I’m going to show you some excellent ideas to reduce your auto insurance bill.

If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. The purpose of this post is to familiarize you with how car insurance quotes work. But Washington consumers can benefit by having an understanding of how insurance companies compete online and use this information to your advantage.

Don’t miss these ten discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help bring down the price. Some discounts apply automatically when you quote, but a few need to be specially asked for prior to getting the savings.

• Multiple Cars – Buying coverage for all your vehicles with the same company qualifies for this discount.
• Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
• No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts when compared with bad drivers.
• Drive Safe and Save – Insureds without accidents may save up to 50% more than drivers with accidents.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles with factory air bags can receive discounts of 20% or more.
• New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Yakima can save you money because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
• Payment Method – If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Distant Student – Any of your kids who are attending college without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.

It’s important to note that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way. Any amount of discount will reduce your overall premium however.

When might I need help?

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique.

For instance, these questions can aid in determining if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.

• Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
• Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
• Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
• Do I need motorclub coverage?
• Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
• Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
• How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Washington?
• Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
• What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?

If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form.

Do drivers who switch really save?

Companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive continually stream ads on television and other media. All the ads make an identical promise that you can save after switching to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured might be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and chooses high deductibles. A driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Drivers who are not a match for the “perfect” profile must pay a higher premium and this can result in business not being written. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.

This illustrates why it’s extremely important to get as many comparisons as possible. It’s not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Parts of your auto insurance policy

Having a good grasp of your auto insurance policy can help you determine appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.

Comprehensive protection

This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like hitting a bird, a broken windshield, hail damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Collision protection

Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against things like sustaining damage from a pot hole, backing into a parked car, driving through your garage door, colliding with another moving vehicle and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Auto liability

This can cover damage that occurs to a person or their property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is a combined limit which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability can pay for things like funeral expenses, medical expenses, bail bonds, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and legal defense fees. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. Washington requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/10,000 but you should consider buying more liability than the minimum.

Medical expense coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for bills for things like EMT expenses, nursing services, X-ray expenses, prosthetic devices and dental work. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your vehicle.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (Washington limits are 25/50/10), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Normally these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

More information can be read on the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Click here for link. Washington drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, read industry bulletins, find disaster information, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other useful links include III.org’s auto insurance page and this page where you can also get Yakima auto insurance quotes.

Best coverage at the best price

Insureds who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including policy non-renewal, extreme rates for teen drivers, not issuing a premium refund and an unsatisfactory settlement offer. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

Low-cost auto insurance can be purchased on the web in addition to many Yakima insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

When buying insurance coverage, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. Too many times, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later that it was a big error on their part. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.