Purchasing the Best Car Insurance
In the past, car insurance was not a necessity, as some people went for it and some did not. However, today an auto coverage policy is one of the crucial things in your life, if you own a car. People need proper coverage, no matter how luxurious or modest their car is.
The way people buy
insurance has also changed. In the past, buying a car insurance just meant to
meet your neighborhood agent and ask him for it. But now, it is somewhat
different, as you have got lots of other options at your disposal from where
you can get your vehicle insured, with some entirely new coverage choices.
Buying car insurance:
Which method to choose?
When you want
insurance for your car, you might be puzzled as from where you should get it.
Should you deal with an insurance agent or should you go online? You can choose
among different options for getting your car insurance. This includes:
1. Buying from captive
agents
2. Buying from
independent agents
3. Buying online
People, who prefer
personal services and like to form face-to-face relationships, should certainly
purchase their policy from an agent. But, since there are different agents,
they need to decide which one is the best for them.
Among these, some are
called 'independent agents,' who sell insurance for numerous companies and some
are 'captive agents,' who sell insurance for just one firm. Let us see the
different features of these agents, so that you can decide easily and quickly
the right agent for yourself.
1. Buying from captive
agents
You should buy your
coverage from a captive agent, if you are dedicated to a specific insurance
firm. Since captive agents deal with only one company, they will know all the
different insurance options offered by that company. And, thus they can assist
you to build the right package based on your needs. However, captive agents may
take more time to respond to your questions and to know your needs as compared
to independent agents who work for commission.
2. Buying from
independent agents
You should buy a
policy from an independent agent, if you want to check out the different
insurances provided by different companies, as independent agents deal with
several companies and not just one particular insurance firm. This way you can
get a better rate.
And, since independent
agents are not directly employed by any one firm, they would not push one
specific product and will tell you the right things about all the insurances.
Thus, independent agents can aid you to find inexpensive coverage for your car.
However, since they work for commission, they are under more pressure to grab a
deal as soon as possible.
3. Buying online
The third option is to
skip insurance agents completely and to work directly with the company online.
However, for this you have to do most of the work yourself. You have to conduct
a thorough research on different coverage providers, what they offer, the rates
of their insurance, and what all their policies covers. Then, you can talk to
the company, that best fits your needs to procure the coverage itself.
Among these, some
insurance companies that employ agents do not necessitate you to work with them
and a few of them do not employ agents at all. Buying auto insurance online is
one of the best options for you if you do not have much time and want to get
inexpensive car insurance, as it saves you from paying commission to an
insurance agent. If you are not sure about your car insurance needs, then
buying car insurance online, without an insurance agent can cause you to buy
the wrong, too little, or too much insurance.
Select your type of coverage
Besides deciding which
company to go with, you must also consider which policy you want. There are
three main types of policies, including traditional, usage-based, and per-mile
car insurance. So, have a look at these three car insurance coverage programs
before you settle for one particular car insurance.
1. Traditional auto
insurance
In this type of auto
insurance, the insurers determine the quotes for the policy with the help of
various personal factors, such as your age, driving history, gender, credit
score, etc. Generally, the more risk you have as a driver as per these factors,
the more high your insurance rates will be. In this, you can opt for a minimum
coverage amount as per the state law or else you can select from a long list of
different types of auto insurance coverage.
2. Usage-based auto
insurance
As opposed to the
traditional car insurance, where insurers presume your driving skills depending
on a list of different risk factors and your accident history, usage-based car
insurance providers offer you car insurance by seeing you in action in real. In
this type of car insurance, like Allstate's Drivewise or Progressive's
Snapshot, you get a telematic device, which you have to plug-in your car. This
device records how you drive and your driving behavior, especially your bad
driving habits like accelerating or hard braking.
So, if the device
records that you are a low-risk driver, then you can save your money with
usage-based car insurance. However, if it records that you frequently drive
late at night or you drive fast, then it would not help you save money with
your car insurance. Additionally, many usage-based car insurance programs are
not available in each state. Therefore, if you are devoted to one insurance
company, then you may have to switch your company, in case you move to a
different state.
3. Per-mile auto
insurance
Per-mile auto
insurance providers also use a telematic device, but they focus on just one
thing, that is how little or how much you use your car. However, this car
insurance type is still new and is not available in every state. Among others,
Metromile is the best provider of per-mile car insurance and is available in
seven states until now, which are California, Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Washington, and Virginia.
Additionally, per-mile
providers use the same elements as traditional insurers in determining your car
insurance rates, but you can save some money through its telematic device. If
you do not use your car much and use it only for emergencies, then your premium
may be cut significantly. However, if you normally drive your car, then there
are fewer chances of you saving money from it.
Shop around
No matter how you
purchase your insurance, whether you go for a dedicated agent or you directly
sign up with a car insurance provider, you must shop around in order to get the
best rates. Do some homework and do not just settle for the first deal that
comes your way. This is because rates for the same policy can differ from one
company to the other by thousands of dollars. Therefore, comparing different
car insurance offers is the best possible way to land up a good deal.
Taking the time to
pick the right insurance coverage can definitely save you money and hassle down
the road. Buck and Affiliates Insurance can help meet your auto
insurance needs in the Spokane, Washington area.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Robert_A_Jenkins/720993
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