If you want to save money, the best way to get discount Ford C-Max Energi insurance is to compare prices regularly from providers that insure vehicles in Madison.
- Gain an understanding of auto insurance and the measures you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that result in higher rates such as tickets, at-fault accidents, and poor credit history can be controlled by paying attention to minor details.
- Request price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can quote prices for a wide range of insurance providers. Find a Madison insurance agent
- Compare the new quotes to your current policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate quote and change companies, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
- Provide adequate notice to your current company of your intent to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit a down payment and signed policy application to the new insurer. Immediately upon receiving it, keep the new certificate verifying coverage in your vehicle.
One tip to remember is that you’ll want to compare similar coverage information on every quote and and to get quotes from as many different companies as possible. This enables a fair rate comparison and the best price selection.
It’s a fact that auto insurance companies don’t want you shop around. People who get comparison quotes at least once a year are inclined to move their business because there is a good probability of finding more affordable rates. A study showed that drivers who regularly shopped around saved $72 a month as compared to drivers who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding budget-friendly insurance in Madison is your objective, then knowing how to get rate quotes and compare auto insurance can help simplify the process.
Ratings for Wisconsin auto insurance companies
Buying coverage from the highest-rated insurer can be rather challenging considering how many companies there are in Wisconsin. The company ratings in the next section may help you decide which insurers to look at to insure your vehicles.
Top 10 Madison Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- USAA – 92%
- Erie Insurance – 88%
- American Family – 88%
- State Farm – 88%
- Nationwide – 88%
- 21st Century – 88%
- AAA Insurance – 87%
- Liberty Mutual – 87%
- Farmers Insurance – 87%
- The Hartford – 87%
Educate yourself about auto insurance coverages
Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are the usual coverages offered by auto insurance companies.
Coverage for medical expenses
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for bills for things like hospital visits, prosthetic devices and ambulance fees. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Auto liability
Liability coverage provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people. It protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 25/50/10 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $10,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers claims like medical expenses, legal defense fees and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Wisconsin requires drivers to carry at least 25/50/10 but drivers should carry more liability than the minimum.
The chart below demonstrates why buying the state minimum limits may not be enough coverage.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many Wisconsin drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/10), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Auto collision coverage
Collision coverage pays for damage to your C-Max Energi from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against claims like driving through your garage door, damaging your car on a curb, backing into a parked car, scraping a guard rail and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible on your C-Max Energi to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive auto insurance
Comprehensive insurance pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like damage from a tornado or hurricane, hitting a deer, rock chips in glass and falling objects. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Quote more and you will save more
Cheaper auto insurance in Madison can be found online and also from your neighborhood Madison agents, so you need to shop Madison auto insurance with both to have the best rate selection. Some companies do not provide rate quotes online and many times these smaller providers provide coverage only through local independent agencies.
As you prepare to switch companies, you should never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at the lowest possible cost while still protecting your assets.
Even more information can be found in the articles below:
- How to Avoid Staged Accidents (State Farm)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for Low Credit Scores in Madison? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Madison Car Insurance Rates for High Mileage Drivers? (FAQ)
- Understanding Rental Car Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)
- Coverage Information (Progressive Insurance)