6 Discounts Atlanta Drivers Neglect when Quoting Car Insurance on the Internet

Are you overwhelmed by the crazy number of car insurance options in Atlanta? You’re not alone. You have so many options available that it can quickly become more work than you anticipated to find the perfect company for you.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using this information. Locating the lowest cost protection in Atlanta is easy if you know what you’re doing. Nevertheless, Georgia drivers need to have an understanding of how insurance companies determine prices and apply this information to your search.

Atlanta Car Insurance Comparisons

All the larger car insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO provide coverage prices on their websites. This process doesn’t take much effort as you simply type in the coverage amounts you desire into a form. When complete, the system will obtain credit information and your driving record and returns pricing information based on these and other factors.

Online quotes helps simplify price comparisons, but the work required to visit each company’s website and repetitively type in the same information is repetitive and time-consuming. But it’s absolutely necessary to have as many quotes as possible in order to get the lowest possible prices on car insurance.

Rate comparisons made easy

The easiest way to lower your rates is to use a quote form to get prices from several companies at one time. This type of form saves time, requires much less work on your part, and makes price shopping online much more enjoyable. Immediately after submitting the form, it is quoted and you can select any one of the quotes that you receive. If you find a better price it’s easy to complete the application and buy the policy. The whole process can be completed in less than 10 minutes and may result in a nice savings.

If you want to find out how much you can save on car insurance, click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you enter exactly as they are listed on your policy. This guarantees you will be getting a price comparison using the exact same coverages.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched some of the more common and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance.

• Multiple Vehicles – Buying coverage for multiple vehicles with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
• Drive Less and Save – Fewer annual miles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
• Safe Driver Discount – Safe drivers may receive a discount up to 45% less than less cautious drivers.
• Discount for Good Grades – Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.

For a list of insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in Georgia, follow this link.

When should I talk to an agent?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Every insured’s situation is different.

These are some specific questions might point out if you might need professional guidance.

• Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Georgia?
• Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
• Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
• Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
• How much liability coverage do I need in Georgia?
• Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
• Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
• Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

Additional detailed information can be found at the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner website. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, get help finding coverage, learn about insurance regulations, and view agent and company licensing information.

Car insurance coverage breakdown

Learning about specific coverages of car insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Car insurance terms can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.

Insurance for medical payments

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for expenses like pain medications, EMT expenses and dental work. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto collision coverage

This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for claims like crashing into a ditch, backing into a parked car, hitting a parking meter, sideswiping another vehicle and colliding with a tree. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Auto liability

This can cover damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have liability limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability coverage pays for things such as legal defense fees, court costs, attorney fees, funeral expenses and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. Georgia requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims like a broken windshield, falling objects and rock chips in glass. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance

This coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (Georgia limits are 25/50/25), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.

What is YOUR best insurance company?

People who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including poor customer service, policy non-renewal, extreme rates for teen drivers and lack of trust in their agent. Regardless of your reason, finding a new car insurance company can be pretty painless.

Low-cost car insurance is possible from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Atlanta agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some car insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, you should never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, drivers have reduced full coverage only to find out that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.