7 Shopping Tips Proven to Slash the Cost of GMC Acadia Auto Insurance Expenses

No one in their right mind likes paying for auto insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high. Many insurers compete to insure your vehicles, and it can be difficult to compare rates and get the best coverage at the best rates possible.

Consumers should take time to get comparison quotes yearly because insurance rates change regularly. Even if you think you had the lowest rates on Acadia coverage last year you will most likely find a better rate today. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re going to learn how to use the internet to save on auto insurance.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Rates

Finding a better price on auto insurance is not rocket science. The only requirement is to invest a few minutes comparing price quotes online with multiple companies. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

The recommended way to find the lowest comparison rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This easy form saves time by eliminating separate quote forms to each individual auto insurance company. One quote request will get you price quotes .

A more time consuming way to obtain and compare quotes online requires a trip to each company website and complete a new quote form. For example, we’ll pretend you want to compare rates from Progressive, State Farm and American Family. You would have to spend time on each company’s site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.

However you get your quotes, make darn sure you compare identical quote information for each comparison quote. If you are comparing unequal deductibles or liability limits it’s impossible to find the best deal for your GMC Acadia.

Do drivers who switch really save $482 a year?

Consumers can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings by companies like State Farm and Allstate. They all seem to make the same claim that you’ll save big if you switch to them.

How do they all make the same claim? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the right customer that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer could be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential customers who don’t meet this ideal profile will be charged a more expensive rate which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. This is how companies can truthfully make those claims.

That is why it’s extremely important to quote coverage with many companies. It’s not possible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Do you qualify for these seven discounts?

Car insurance is not cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of purchase, but less common discounts must be requested specifically before being credited. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be. insurance banner

Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
Good Student – Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Keeping the miles down on your GMC could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
Life Insurance Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% off your medical payments premium.
Early Switch Discount – Some companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way. But all discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts, click here to view.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage

When it comes to choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions might point out if you may require specific advice.

Are my friends covered when driving my GMC Acadia?
Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
When should I drop full coverage on my GMC Acadia?
Am I covered when driving a rental car?
I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?

If you’re not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Auto insurance coverage information

Understanding the coverages of your policy can help you determine which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on most auto insurance policies.

Auto collision coverage

This coverage covers damage to your Acadia resulting from a collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for things such as driving through your garage door, crashing into a building and colliding with a tree. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Insurance for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for expenses for things like hospital visits, dental work, nursing services and surgery. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Coverage for liability

This coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability insurance covers claims like emergency aid, structural damage, loss of income, medical services and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like hail damage, a broken windshield and vandalism. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your GMC Acadia.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Smart consumers save more

Budget-conscious GMC Acadia insurance is definitely available on the web and with local insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

In this article, we covered many ideas to compare GMC Acadia insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a smaller regional carrier. Smaller companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.

As you prepare to switch companies, don’t be tempted to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. Too many times, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The aim is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.