The best way to get low-cost auto insurance rates in Jacksonville is to do an annual price comparison from insurance carriers in Florida.
Step 1: Try to learn about how companies set rates and the measures you can control to keep rates low. Many risk factors that cause high rates such as your driving record and a not-so-good credit rating can be eliminated by paying attention to minor details. This article gives additional ideas to prevent high rates and find available discounts that you may qualify for.
Step 2: Get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from many different companies.
Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage and determine if cheaper Bolt EV coverage is available. If you find a better price and make a switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
One important bit of advice is to make sure you’re comparing the same level of coverage on each quote request and and to get rate quotes from as many companies as possible. This enables an accurate price comparison and the best rate selection.
A recent study showed that the vast majority of consumers renewed their policy with the same company for a minimum of four years, and roughly 40% of drivers have never even compared rates from other companies. Jacksonville insurance shoppers can save almost 55% each year just by getting comparison quotes, but they just feel it’s too hard to find lower-cost rates by getting comparison quotes.
Lower rate quotes by getting these six discounts
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you might find some hidden discounts to help offset the cost. A few discounts will be applied when you quote, but some need to be specially asked for prior to receiving the credit. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount available, you could be saving more on your car insurance.
- Drivers Education – Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
- Waiver for an Accident – Not a discount per se, but some insurance companies allow you one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
- Safe Driver Discounts – Drivers who avoid accidents could pay up to 40% less than less cautious drivers.
- E-sign Discounts – A few larger online companies provide a small discount just for signing your application on the web.
- Good Student – Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up until you turn 25.
- Clubs and Organizations – Having an affiliation with certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on your bill.
Don’t be shocked that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck.
Popular car insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts are included below.
- Esurance may have discounts that include safety device, Switch & Save, multi-policy, emergency road assistance, and anti-theft.
- The Hartford includes discounts for driver training, bundle, air bag, defensive driver, and good student.
- AAA has savings for good student, AAA membership discount, pay-in-full, good driver, multi-policy, anti-theft, and education and occupation.
- GEICO offers discounts for daytime running lights, multi-vehicle, anti-lock brakes, multi-policy, good student, anti-theft, and federal employee.
- State Farm offers premium reductions for multiple autos, good student, Drive Safe & Save, multiple policy, and accident-free.
If you need inexpensive Jacksonville auto insurance quotes, ask each company or agent the best way to save money. All car insurance discounts might not be available to policyholders in Jacksonville. To view insurers that provide some of the discounts listed above in Jacksonville, click here.
What auto insurance coverages do you need?
Having a good grasp of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.
Comprehensive coverage
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for things like damage from getting keyed, hitting a deer and damage from flooding. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability
Liability insurance protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 10/20/10 which means a limit of $10,000 per injured person, a total of $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $10,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for things like medical expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Florida requires drivers to carry at least 10/20/10 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.
The next chart shows why buying the state minimum limits may not provide you with enough coverage.
Collision protection
This will pay to fix damage to your Bolt EV resulting from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against things like hitting a mailbox, scraping a guard rail, colliding with a tree, damaging your car on a curb and backing into a parked car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible on your Bolt EV to bring the cost down.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This coverage gives you protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Chevy Bolt EV.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (10/20/10), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills such as pain medications, nursing services, dental work, doctor visits and ambulance fees. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
A little work can save a LOT of money
A few companies may not have rate quotes online and many times these smaller providers provide coverage only through independent insurance agents. Low-cost Chevy Bolt EV insurance in Jacksonville is definitely available from both online companies and with local Jacksonville insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection.
When getting Jacksonville auto insurance quotes online, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many situations where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price, but do not skimp to save money.
More tips and info about auto insurance is located by following these links:
- Teen Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for Handicapped Drivers in Jacksonville? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Ride Shares in Jacksonville? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a 20 Year Old Male in Jacksonville? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Used Cars in Jacksonville? (FAQ)
- Vehicle Safety Ratings (iihs.org)
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Hybrid vehicles cost insurers more (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)