Costing Too Much for Car Insurance in Miami Beach, FL? Here’s How to Save!

Are you intimidated by the sheer number of car insurance company choices in Miami Beach? Lot’s of other consumers are too. Drivers have so many options that it can be a big hassle to find better rates.

If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you will benefit by learning to reduce the price you pay while maintaining coverages. The purpose of this post is to teach you how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. Florida drivers just need to learn the tricks to compare prices online.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but there are discounts available that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few must be manually applied prior to getting the savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

• Military Rewards – Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower premiums.
• Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less as compared to frequent claim filers.
• Discount for Good Grades – Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply up until you turn 25.
• One Accident Forgiven – Some insurance companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a set time period.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
• Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
• Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
• Early Switch Discount – Select companies give a discount for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
• Student in College – Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car may be able to be covered for less.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn’t work that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

When might I need an agent?

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different.

These are some specific questions may help highlight whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• Do I need motorclub coverage?
• Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
• Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
• How high should my medical payments coverage be?
• What is the minimum liability in Florida?
• I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
• Who is covered by my policy?
• Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
• What if I total my vehicle and owe more than it’s worth?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

More information is available on the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website located here. Florida drivers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, and find disaster information.

Final considerations

When you buy insurance online, it’s not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, someone dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford.

Cheaper car insurance is definitely available both online in addition to many Miami Beach insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

You just read a lot of ways to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies.