It’s an obvious conclusion that insurance companies don’t want policyholders to compare prices from other companies. Insureds who get price comparisons are likely to switch insurance companies because there is a high probability of finding a cheaper policy. A recent study showed that consumers who regularly shopped around saved about $3,400 over four years as compared to drivers who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding low prices for car insurance in Long Beach is your target objective, then having some insight into the best way to quote and compare coverages can make it easier for you to save money.
If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to find affordable quotes for Nissan Leaf insurance is to regularly compare prices from insurance carriers in Long Beach.
Step 1: Try to comprehend individual coverages and the measures you can control to prevent high rates. Many policy risk factors that result in higher rates such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and a less-than-favorable credit history can be controlled by being financially responsible and driving safely. Keep reading for additional tips to help keep rates affordable and earn a bigger discount.
Step 2: Get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agencies can provide price quotes from many different companies.
Step 3: Compare the new rates to your existing policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a lower rate, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
Step 4: Tell your current agent or company to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit the required down payment along with the signed application for the new coverage. Once received, safely store the certificate of insurance with your registration paperwork.
The most important part of shopping around is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical deductibles and limits on every quote request and and to get price estimates from all possible companies. Doing this guarantees an apples-to-apples comparison and many rates to choose from.
Car insurance coverage basics
Understanding the coverages of a car insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages for your vehicles. Car insurance terms can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are typical coverage types found on the average car insurance policy.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Nissan Leaf.
Due to the fact that many California drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (California limits are 15/30/5), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Normally these limits are set the same as your liability limits.
Liability coverages
Liability coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to people or other property. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 15/30/5 that translate to $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $5,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for claims like pain and suffering, funeral expenses and emergency aid. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but buy higher limits if possible. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
The next chart shows why the minimum limit may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.
Auto collision coverage
This coverage covers damage to your Leaf resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers claims like crashing into a ditch, driving through your garage door and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible on your Leaf to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from getting keyed, hail damage, hitting a bird and theft. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Medical expense insurance
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for short-term medical expenses like pain medications, X-ray expenses and surgery. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Affordable insurance premiums are possible
Cost effective Nissan Leaf insurance is possible both online and from local insurance agents, and you should compare rates from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers may not offer internet price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies only sell coverage through independent agents.
In this article, we presented many tips how you can compare Nissan Leaf insurance rates in Long Beach. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get car insurance rates for, the better likelihood of getting low cost Long Beach auto insurance quotes. You may even find the biggest savings come from a lesser-known regional company. Some small companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates than their larger competitors like Progressive or GEICO.
When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s not a good idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. Too many times, an insured cut collision coverage only to regret at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
For more information, take a look at the resources below:
- Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a GMC Sierra in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Long Beach Auto Insurance Quotes for College Students? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Long Beach Auto Insurance for Drivers Requiring a SR22? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for Single Moms in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Kia Optima in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- Auto Insurance Basics (Insurance Information Institute)
- How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
- Young Drivers: The High Risk Years Video (iihs.org)