3 Things You Should Ask Your Car Insurance Agent
An independent car insurance agent will help you save money by finding the most affordable coverage that suits your needs. Since the agents deal with multiple insurance carriers, they will give you an honest assessment of various policies, helping you make comparisons. Also, you will be free to purchase different products from multiple companies instead of one.
So, what are some essential questions you should ask your auto insurance agency?
Coverage
Most states require mandatory liability insurance. This policy covers property damage or injuries to another person due to an accident in which you are at fault. Property damage includes damage to another individual's vehicle, yard, and fence. On the other hand, bodily injury insurance covers the victim's medical bills and lost income.
Liability insurance only caters to damages incurred by another party. You will need to ask your insurance agent about additional policies to cover your injuries and property. These extra covers include collision and comprehensive policies. Collision insurance will help pay for repair or replacement costs if your vehicle is damaged in an accident by another car or object, like a tree.
If your vehicle is stolen or destroyed in an incident that isn't a collision, comprehensive coverage can assist pay for its replacement or repair. This coverage often covers damage from fire and vandalism.
Discounts
You should ask your insurance agent about discounts. A good discount package can significantly help you save money. There are various auto insurance discounts, such as driver safety, driver status, and policy. Driver safety insurance discounts reward drivers for their excellent driving habits.
You can qualify for this discount package by taking defensive driving lessons from a certified institution. Also, you are eligible for this discount if you have been accident-free for at least three to five years. Driver status car insurance discounts are based on certain attributes of the driver. For instance, you are entitled to this benefit if you are a good student or served in the military.
Policy car discounts are based on the nature of your coverage. For example, some companies may reward you with a discount if you purchase homeowners' insurance with them or another organization. Also, you can save money if you have multiple cars by insuring them under one company.
Deductibles
A car insurance deductible refers to the amount of money you will pay out-of-pocket if you are involved in an accident before the insurance company chips in. You need to discuss with your insurance agent the amount you are comfortable paying.
Also, you should know which coverages have deductibles. For instance, you won't have to pay deductibles for liability insurance and uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage. However, you must pay out-of-pocket for collision, comprehensive, and personal injury protection insurance.