5 Ways to Save on Car Insurance in Laurel, MT

Finding lower rates for Laurel car insurance is difficult for consumers new to buying insurance online. You have so many options that it can easily become a real challenge to compare prices in Laurel.

It is always a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates at least once a year because insurance rates change frequently. Even if you got the best rates two years ago other companies may now be cheaper. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the best way to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts very clearly, so we break down both the well known and the more hidden ways to save on car insurance.

• E-sign – A few companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy on their website.
• Auto/Life Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
• Resident Student – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
• Student Driver Training – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
• Lower Rates for Military – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.

Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Laurel, follow this link.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Car insurance providers like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all make an identical promise of big savings if you move to them. How do they all make the same claim? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a driver they prefer could be over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A propective insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential insureds who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile will have to pay more money and ends up with business not being written. The ads state “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently claim big savings. Because of the profiling, you need to get a wide range of price quotes. You cannot predict which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Car insurance policy coverages

Learning about specific coverages of car insurance helps when choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things like fire damage, hail damage, vandalism and falling objects. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Medical costs insurance – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses like prosthetic devices, chiropractic care and rehabilitation expenses. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

UM/UIM Coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/10), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.

Collision coverages – Collision coverage covers damage to your vehicle from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for claims like rolling your car, colliding with another moving vehicle and hitting a mailbox. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Liability auto insurance – Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people. It protects you from legal claims by others. It does not cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage protects against claims like legal defense fees, attorney fees, emergency aid, pain and suffering and medical expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. Montana state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/10,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.

Learn more today

Additional detailed information can be read at the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website. Consumers can file complaints about a company, read industry bulletins, find out industry alerts, and read state legal mandates and laws.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

While you’re price shopping online, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, someone dropped liability coverage limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Budget-conscious car insurance is definitely available on the web and also from your neighborhood Laurel agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

In this article, we presented some good ideas how to save on car insurance. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from an unexpected company.