When is the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rate a Bad Idea?

So you’ve been shopping for auto insurance and have received several quotes.  There is a variety of companies, coverages, and prices.  Which one should you choose? 

A lot of people just pick the cheapest one and go with it immediately, but this can be a BIG mistake.  Let’s take a look at a few things to consider when comparing quotes.

#1 – Compare deductibles.  Review each quote and if a vehicle has comprehensive and collision coverage, look at what deductible is listed.  The deductible is the amount you will pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in.  A higher deductible (like $1000 or $500) will result in a cheaper monthly premium.  Look and see if all of your quotes use the same deductible on each vehicle. 

#2 – Compare Liability coverage.  The liability coverage will be listed as Bodily Injury and Property Damage on your quote.  Look at the numbers and see if they are the same on each quote.  This is the total amount the policy will pay out if you cause an accident.  A higher number means more coverage and will cost slightly more.  Are all of your quotes using the same amount of liability coverage? 

#3 – Compare extras.  Next see what extras are in the policy.  Is there coverage for a rental car?  What about towing if you break down?  Does the policy forgive your first accident or offer other perks?  Make notes of all the extras for each quote.  Consider if these are things you need on your policy and make notes to ask additional questions if you aren’t sure what’s included.

Next step, get an apples to apples quote.  You can’t compare an apple to an orange right?  They’re totally different.  That’s why you only compare prices on insurance quotes that include the SAME coverage.  Call those companies back up and ask them to adjust the coverage as needed to get a better comparison.

Also, take into account the reputation of the company you are working with.  If you’ve never heard of the insurance company, ask for information from the agent about their rating in your state and how reliable they are in paying their claims.  A few extra dollars per month can be worth it for a reputable company that you can trust.  SAV-ON Insurance Agencies has been doing business for over 50 years in the state of Washington.

Have questions? Give SAV-ON a call today at 888-867-2866 for a free rate quote! When you refer someone to us, whether or not they buy a policy, we contribute to a local charity that raises funds to find a cure for cancer!

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