Smart shoppers know that auto insurance companies want to keep you from comparing prices. Consumers who shop for lower prices will, in all likelihood, switch companies because there is a good probability of finding more affordable rates. A recent study showed that consumers who regularly compared price quotes saved on average $860 a year as compared to drivers who never shopped around for better prices.
If finding the best rates on car insurance in Louisville is your ultimate objective, understanding how to quote and compare cheaper coverage can help make the process easier.
Truthfully, the best way to find more affordable car insurance rates in Louisville is to compare prices annually from companies that sell auto insurance in Kentucky. You can compare rates by following these steps.
- Step 1: Try to learn a little about how insurance companies determine prices and the changes you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many factors that result in higher rates like traffic violations, accidents, and a less-than-favorable credit score can be remedied by paying attention to minor details. Keep reading for information to prevent expensive rate increases and find additional discounts you may qualify for.
- Step 2: Get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only provide price estimates from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agencies can provide prices for many different companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new quotes to your existing coverage to see if a cheaper price is available in Louisville. If you find a lower rate and change companies, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
- Step 4: Provide notification to your current company to cancel your existing policy and submit the signed application along with the required initial payment to the new company. Immediately upon receiving it, safely store the certificate verifying proof of insurance in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
An essential thing to point out is that you’ll want to compare the same liability limits and deductibles on each quote and and to get price quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this provides an apples-to-apples comparison and a better comparison of the market.
Finding quotes for the cheapest policy in Louisville is not as difficult as people think. If you are insured now or just want cheaper coverage, you will benefit by learning to reduce premiums and still get good coverage. Shoppers just need to understand the most efficient way to buy car insurance from many companies at once.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide free rate quotes in Kentucky. In order to find cheap auto insurance in Kentucky, we recommend you visit as many as you can in order to find the most competitive rates.
Auto insurance does more than just protect your car
Even though Louisville 86 insurance rates can get expensive, maintaining insurance is mandatory in Kentucky but it also protects more than you think.
- The majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require specific limits of liability insurance coverage if you drive a vehicle. In Kentucky these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your Toyota has a loan, it’s guaranteed your bank will require that you have full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank may insure your Toyota at a much higher premium rate and require you to fork over a much higher amount than you were paying before.
- Auto insurance preserves not only your Toyota 86 but also your financial assets. It will also pay for many types of medical costs for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if you are sued as the result of your driving. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of insuring your car definitely exceed the price paid, particularly when you have a large claim. On average, a vehicle owner in Louisville overpays more than $830 a year so compare rate quotes every year to save money.
Insurance coverage basics
Knowing the specifics of your insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as rock chips in glass, hitting a bird, hitting a deer, damage from a tornado or hurricane and a broken windshield. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Coverage for collisions
This covers damage to your 86 caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as damaging your car on a curb, sideswiping another vehicle, rolling your car and hitting a mailbox. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible on your 86 in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Liability auto insurance
This protects you from damage that occurs to other’s property or people. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show policy limits of 25/50/10 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $10,000. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage protects against claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, loss of income, structural damage, bail bonds and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as much as you can afford. Kentucky state minimum liability requirements are 25/50/10 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
The next chart shows why buying the state minimum limits may not be high enough to cover claims.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
This protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (25/50/10 in Kentucky), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Insurance for medical payments
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for expenses such as X-ray expenses, chiropractic care and pain medications. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage