When you’re getting your insurance policy in place you want to make sure that it’s “just right”. Not having enough coverage can lead to problems, and having more coverage than you need is a waste of money. Finding the right balance is key. A good auto insurance agent will help you do this. They’ll make sure you have a policy that covers you for the most likely things to happen to your car, and will exclude items from your policy that you most probably won’t need.
You don’t want to leave your insurance decisions entirely in the hands of your agent, of course. You’ll want to do your own research and be sure that what they are telling you sounds right. Basically, you’ll want to treat them as a guide that is helping you to the right coverage and making sure you don’t forget anything. They do work for the insurance company, and get paid by how big of a policy you sign up for, so be sure to keep them in check while still getting a smart deal.
The most basic step when getting auto insurance is to make sure you are adhering to your state’s insurance laws and regulations. They’ve each got differing degrees of coverage that is required in order to drive. Every insurance provider is aware of these minimal levels and will include them as a foundation for the rest of your policy. More than likely you’ll want to get more than just the state minimums so that you’ll be protected from additional occurrences.
Most states only require third-party coverage which protects you from accidents that you yourself cause. A wise choice would be to get some collision coverage so that you’re protected in any type of vehicular accident. This means that you’ll be covered regardless of whose fault it is, and whether or not the other person has insurance or not.
The last type of insurance you might consider is comprehensive coverage. If you have money you don’t know what to do with you can just get fully comprehensive coverage and never have to worry about anything happening to your car. But comprehensive policies can also be pick-and-choose style so that you can take what you need and leave what you don’t. Get the data for your area and see what the likelihood of weather damage, theft, and vandalism is. If you live in a high crime area you might want to have your car covered for theft and vandalism. If you live in a part of the country that is prone to flooding or tornadoes, you should consider adding these to your coverage.
Making smart decisions when getting auto insurance can end up saving you hundreds and potentially thousands of dollars. It is worth your time to examine your current policy to see if you’re paying for things you don’t need, or if your coverage is a little bare in some areas.