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:
- Buying from captive agents
- Buying from independent agents
- 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.
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