Car Insurance in Shreveport – 6 Discounts You Might be Losing Out On

Buying cheap Shreveport car insurance on the web can be difficult for beginners to online price comaprisons. When there are so many insurers available, how can consumers effectively compare every one to find the cheapest rates?

If you have a current car insurance policy or are looking for a new policy, you will benefit by learning to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding affordable car insurance in Shreveport is simple if you know the tricks. Louisiana drivers only need to know the most efficient way to compare price quotes online.

Companies offer discounts so take them!

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list all their discounts very clearly, so we break down both the well known as well as the least known ways to save on car insurance. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than their less cautious counterparts.
• Driver’s Ed – Have your child take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
• Resident Student – Kids in college who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies will give a small break for buying your policy over the internet.
• Low Mileage – Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.

It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.

For a list of insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Shreveport, click this link.

It’s not one size fits all

When buying the best car insurance coverage, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

For instance, these questions may help you determine whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
• Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
• Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
• I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
• Am I covered when driving a rental car?
• Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Comparing rates from local agents

Certain consumers would prefer to visit with an insurance agent. Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. The best thing about getting online price quotes is you may find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your insurance data is submitted to participating agents in Shreveport who will battle for your business. There is no reason to drive around as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide.

Choosing an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just a low price. Here are some questions to ask:

• Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
• Are they full-time agents?
• If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
• Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
• Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• How long has their agency been open in Shreveport?

If you want to select a specific agent in Shreveport, visit this site.

Once you have positive feedback to all your questions as well as a affordable price, you’ve probably found an insurer that can provide car insurance coverage. Keep in mind policyholders can cancel a policy any time you want so never feel that you are obligated to any specific agency for the full term.

More tips and info about car insurance is located at the Louisiana Department of Insurance website. Louisiana drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and learn about insurance regulations.

The coverage is in the details

Knowing the specifics of your car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Liability coverages

Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see policy limits of 50/100/50 that translate to $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as funeral expenses, medical expenses, attorney fees, loss of income and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but consider buying as much as you can afford. Louisiana state minimum liability requirements are 15,000/30,000/25,000 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.

Collision coverage

Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from colliding with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers claims like scraping a guard rail, driving through your garage door, hitting a parking meter, colliding with a tree and sideswiping another vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Medical expense insurance

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for expenses for things like dental work, funeral costs, rehabilitation expenses, surgery and chiropractic care. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Due to the fact that many Louisiana drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.

Comprehensive (Other than Collision)

This coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like rock chips in glass, damage from a tornado or hurricane, vandalism and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

And the best car insurance company is…

We’ve covered a lot of techniques to get a better price on car insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even find the biggest savings come from some of the smallest insurance companies.

Consumers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, not issuing a premium refund, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and even policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching car insurance companies can be pretty painless.

When shopping online for car insurance, it’s a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice full coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.