It’s well known that insurance companies don’t want you comparing rates. People who shop around for cheaper prices will, in all likelihood, buy a new policy because the odds are good of finding lower prices. A survey found that people who compared prices regularly saved an average of $70 a month as compared to drivers who never shopped for cheaper rates.
If finding budget-friendly Suzuki Vitara insurance in Madison is your ultimate goal, then understanding how to shop and compare insurance coverage can help make the process easier and more efficient.
Truthfully, the best way to get low-cost Suzuki Vitara insurance is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from providers who sell auto insurance in Madison. You can shop around by following these guidelines.
First, get a basic knowledge of policy coverages and the measures you can take to prevent rate increases. Many things that increase rates such as multiple speeding tickets and poor credit can be remedied by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
Second, quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agents can quote rates for a wide range of companies.
Third, compare the new quotes to your existing coverage to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find better rates and change companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
One bit of advice is to make sure you’re comparing the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote and and to get quotes from every insurance company. Doing this provides the most accurate price comparison and many rates to choose from.
If you have coverage now or need new coverage, use these tips to save money and possibly find even better coverage. Finding the cheapest car insurance coverage in Madison is not that difficult. Smart buyers only have to learn the best way to get comparison rates online.
Finding more affordable car insurance prices is actually easier than you may think. The only thing you need to do is take a couple of minutes comparing rate quotes to find out which insurance company has inexpensive Madison auto insurance quotes.
Getting free price quotes online is quite simple, and it takes the place of having to waste gas driving to all the different Madison insurance agencies. Quoting and buying Suzuki Vitara insurance online reduces the need to sit down with an agent unless you want the peace of mind of a licensed agent. However, consumers can comparison shop online but purchase the actual policy in an agency.
The companies in the list below provide free rate quotes in Wisconsin. If you wish to find cheap auto insurance in WI, it’s a good idea that you visit two to three different companies to find the lowest auto insurance rates.
Best reasons to buy car insurance in Wisconsin
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Suzuki Vitara in Madison, insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.
First, almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means the state requires specific minimum amounts of liability insurance in order to drive the car. In Wisconsin 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.
Second, if your car has a lienholder, almost every bank will require that you have comprehensive coverage to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the bank may insure your Suzuki at a more expensive rate and force you to reimburse them the higher price.
Third, car insurance preserves not only your Suzuki but also your financial assets. It also can pay for many types of medical costs for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if you cause an accident and are sued. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of buying enough insurance definitely exceed the price paid, particularly if you ever have a claim. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver is wasting up to $825 a year so we recommend shopping around once a year at a minimum to ensure rates are competitive.
Car insurance coverage specifics
Learning about specific coverages of your policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverages available from car insurance companies.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 25/50/10), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.
Liability car insurance
Liability insurance can cover damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 25/50/10 that means you have a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $10,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability coverage protects against claims like medical services, loss of income, funeral expenses and pain and suffering. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. Wisconsin requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/10 but drivers should carry higher limits.
The chart below shows why buying the state minimum limits may not be adequate.
Medical expense coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for expenses for pain medications, dental work, surgery and hospital visits. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover you and your occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Collision protection
This coverage pays for damage to your Vitara caused by collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for things like scraping a guard rail, sideswiping another vehicle, driving through your garage door and crashing into a building. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible on your Vitara to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive protection
This covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like damage from a tornado or hurricane, vandalism and hail damage. 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 probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Find cheaper car insurance prices by comparing often
While you’re price shopping online, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice full coverage to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best cost.
We just showed you some good ideas how to reduce Suzuki Vitara insurance prices online in Madison. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.
Additional information can be found on the following sites:
- Shopping for a Safe Car (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record in Madison? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Toyota Corolla in Madison? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for Government Employees in Madison? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Hybrid Vehicles in Madison? (FAQ)
- Help Your Teen Be a Better Driver (State Farm)
- Your Car has been Stolen: Now What? (Allstate)
- Vehicle Safety Ratings (iihs.org)