Car Insurance in Grand Island Nebraska – 9 Discounts Drivers are Unaware of

Paying for high-priced car insurance can dwindle your bank account and put the squeeze on your family’s finances. Comparing price quotes is a great way to make sure you’re not throwing money away.

Since consumers have many choices of insurance companies, it can be diffult for consumers to find the right insurer.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

Auto insurance companies do not advertise every discount very clearly, so here is a list both the well known and the more hidden ways to save on car insurance.

• Distant Student – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
• Auto/Life Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
• Federal Employees – Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.
• E-sign – Certain companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing online.
• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may save up to 50% more than less cautious drivers.
• Organization Discounts – Participating in certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for car insurance.
• Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
• Anti-theft Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Discount for New Cars – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.

When should I talk to an agent?

When it comes to choosing the best car insurance coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help highlight whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Nebraska?
• Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
• Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
• Does my vehicle need full coverage?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Learn more about Nebraska car insurance

Even more information can be found at the Nebraska Department of Insurance website. Consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, read consumer alerts, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Additional helpful sites include this site for car insurance information in Nebraska and this page where you can research Grand Island insurance agents.

Coverage specifics

Understanding the coverages of a car insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are the normal coverages available from car insurance companies.

UM/UIM Coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important.

Medical costs insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills for rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits and X-ray expenses. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to you and your occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Liability coverages

Liability insurance protects you from damage that occurs to other people or property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show limits of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000.

Liability insurance covers things like emergency aid, court costs and medical expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. Nebraska requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.

Collision coverage protection

Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for claims like hitting a parking meter, sustaining damage from a pot hole, backing into a parked car and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as hitting a deer, hail damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a bird and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Online plus local equals savings

Budget-conscious car insurance is definitely available both online and with local Grand Island insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. Some companies do not offer online quoting and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of techniques to reduce car insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the lowest rates come from some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate and Progressive.