Buying a new car can be very exciting, but trying to find the right car insurance online can be very overwhelming.
Buying car insurance online is very easy and fast, but it can get tricky, and very expensive if you don’t know exactly what you are looking for, or what you really need. Insurance terms can get confusing, and in case an accident happens, it is key to know what your insurance covers and what it doesn’t cover.
This article focuses on different ways to buy insurance online and avoid being scammed
Know Your Insurance Policy
Have you ever tried to get a quote through a car insurance company’s website? Most of the time they will ask you how much you are willing to pay, or how much you currently pay. They use this as a reference price to give you an offer that is hard to reject. The truth is that if you try to buy car insurance online yourself, you risk getting sold coverage that you may not need, or not getting the correct coverage that you do need.
Everyone wants the best coverage at the lowest possible price and by using the right resources, you can find great policy options. However, it is very easy to end up with a policy that doesn’t cover all of the damages that you may cause.
Let’s say you accidentally hit the car next to you while driving, and then they swerve and hit the car next to them. If the policy you purchased does not cover enough Property Damage Liability to pay for the damage to both cars and anything else that they may hit during this accident that you caused, you will be on the hook for the additional amounts. The insurance companies one or both drivers may sue you if they have to pay to repair their policy holder’s property.
There is a minimum amount of Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability coverage that you are required to have in each state. But, for a little extra money, you can get better coverage that will keep your assets and future much safer. Most times, when buying car insurance online, the companies won’t tell you exactly about little changes you could make that would make your life easier.
Car Insurance Online Terms
These are some terms that are important to know when shopping for car insurance. If you don’t know enough about the insurance terminology and coverages, it is hard to know which and how much damage your insurance will cover in different claim situations.
Terms you might find in your quote and not be familiar with are Medical Payments, Collision, Comprehensive, Underinsured Motorist, and others. Medical Payments coverage will help cover medical expenses for you and your passenger if you are at fault in the accident. Collision coverage will protect you against costly damage to your car, after an accident. This is not the same as property damage liability, which pays to fix the other car or property, that you hit. Comprehensive insurance covers damages to your car, not related to an accident, such as theft, flood, fire, or a damaged windshield.
Some car insurance companies will send you extremely cheap quotes right away, knowing very little information about you. However, those can change many times, when they get more information about you. The more concise the information you share about yourself, the better the accuracy of the quotes you will receive. Any missing information, about tickets, claims, or accidents will increase your policy quote when the companies pull your consumer reports.
Intentionally trying to hide or change information in your record may be considered fraud, and can lead to a denial of a claim payment. So, buyers beware when purchasing car insurance online and not providing accurate information.
Car Insurance Agents
Even if you feel you know enough to buy your own insurance, it may be better to be safe than sorry and work with a local licensed insurance agent who knows your state’s rules and can help you be properly protected and safe. If you get involved in a car accident and you get injured, or someone else does, not having the right insurance can cost you for many years to come. A good agent will get you the best coverage possible within your budget. They can compare different insurance plans for you, and save you the time of and hassle of calling or searching a bunch of different companies.
Need Help Buying Car Insurance?
At Home & Auto Resources we have a great network of professionals who can assist you, and provide you with all the advice and information you might need about your home and automobile. Contact us through our website or call us at 888-535-2762 today! You can also visit our website for more resources for homeowners, renters, and auto insurance.
Continue Reading
CONTACT US
Have a question we haven’t considered yet? Fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you!