How to Choose Best Auto Insurance Coverage?

[kreitosune]

In today days the process for chossing a Reputable Auto Insurance Company has become very complicated. How do you know what companies are reputable and which are just out to take your money and provide little in return? Before you shop, the first question to ask yourself is what is it you want from your auto insurance company. Mainly, you want them to:

• Be fair – handle your claims in a fair and timely fashion
• Have a strong financial outlook
• Have few complaints filed against them
• Be rated highly by private rating services
• Be honest with you – tell you what coverages you need given your circumstances and how much it will cost
• Be responsive to your questions – have someone available to answer your coverage and claim questions
• Have a history of good service

There’re so many categories of auto insurance coverage. What coverage do you need most? What can you do without? Picking up the best coverage options takes some time and efforts.

1. Go to the website of your state’s department of insurance. Therefore you’ll have a better understanding of your state’s auto insurance coverage requirements.

2. Check and review your driving record.
Minimum coverage is not enough for risky drivers.

3. In addition to your driving record, you also need to consider other factors when deciding how much coverage you need.

4. Perhaps the most important step for finding the best coverage is to obtain the best auto insurance rates for your needs.

5. Extra Bonus.

[JoeP]

Although the OP is almost certainly post padding, I have to add that you should review your policies annually and get free rate quotes from competitors every few years.

I didn't know that we were paying a lot more than we should have been paying, until a friend of ours ran a auto and homeowners quote. Now we're saving around $1200/yr and have better coverage. I've referred 2 other parties, and they are saving a few hundred up to $600 annually. I won't name the companies here, but you can PM me if you want.

For auto, the 6 hour defensive driver course can lower your auto premium, reduce your points if applicable, and also put you in a better position to drive more safely.

[007cupcake]

Trying to PM you Joe.

How do you PM you Joe? I would like to send an email, but can't find the button to inquire about the insurance company. Good Grief! Can you help me? Thanks.

[bjl584]

How do you PM you Joe? I would like to send an email, but can't find the button to inquire about the insurance company. Good Grief! Can you help me? Thanks.

Click on his user name. (The big blue name "JoeP" in the upper left hand corner of his post.) Then scroll down to "send JoeP a private message." Click on it.

[greenskeeper]

I changed companies a few years ago, funny thing was that the new company was underwritten by my original insurer, and cheaper!

[James B]

I changed companies a few years ago, funny thing was that the new company was underwritten by my original insurer, and cheaper!

I think that depends on the agent... there are some targets (oh, and there is greed) to achieve and they will do anything to get there.

[snafu]

We use an insurance agent who 'shops' our house & car policies to all the big re-insurers for bids. We compare those offers to what's available on-line. We review our policies every year when the bill comes about 60 days in advance of renewal. We've only had a couple of weather related/break-in claims in 25 yrs. and learned your level of satisfaction will be based on how effectively you present your case & details to the claims rep.

The worst was State Farm but they all have a try at denying/reducing your claim to some level. Best to protect yourself with an up-to-date list of items supported by pictures or video. For example, we had to provide evidence of how many CDs/DVDs were stolen for the insurer to evaluate in spite of 'total replacement value' policies.

I may seem cynical but since interest rates are so low the companies no longer get the profit they need from investing in the Bond market. They need to squeeze it somewhere

[blastincome]

how to choose best auto coverage

1.Your first step to make sure that the company is rated A-you can search the rating of the company by going to AMbest
2. Bodily injury must be at 100 per person and 300 per accident ( although you will pay more in the beginning in the long long run you will look like a A rated customer or risk to the company and you will save even more)
3. DO NOT carry a deductible lower than $1000-last thing you want to do is put a claim for under a $1000 and then have a rate increase of $400/year for the next 3 years.

I hope this helped..

thanx

[Oquote]

Good tips. Although I agree with the 100/300, as we all know, many drivers insist on the state minimums which are typically 12,500/25,000 or so.

For those drivers, 100/300 will not be met favorably. A bump up to 25/50 might be more palatable. Boy, I love using that word!

[AccountantSalary]

I also recommend checking Consumer Reports, which generally reports on car insurance in at least one issue a year. The mag is generally available in most public libraries.