If you have a car, it's vital that you have car insurance. Whether you're looking to change your current plan or buy one for the first time, you shouldn't make this decision lightly. After all, should you get into an accident, it's this plan that will protect you from the cost of vehicle repairs, the purchase of a new car, or medical bills.
So what can you do to ensure you're getting the best car insurance plan possible? Simply, you need to pay attention to the fine print. Make sure you understand all of the terms before signing on the dotted line.
Evaluate the Coverage
You might think this means looking at your total liability amount, but it's actually a bit more complicated than that. What you should really pay attention to is your coverage per person. Some insurance policies might have a per person liability coverage that's different than the total amount. So, if you're the only person on the plan, your coverage might be considerably less than what you anticipated. This can create significant problems if you're responsible for an accident and are sued. To combat this problem, make sure the total liability coverage and per person coverage are listed as the same in your policy.
Look Into Umbrella Policies
Rather than buying your car insurance by itself, you may find it more financially beneficial to buy an umbrella policy that takes care of several of your insurance needs at once. Typically, these policies can be purchased to cover both your car and your home. Your monthly premium will be cheaper than if you bought both plans individually. Likewise, your coverage will be substantial. Usually, it's only a few hundred dollars a year for up to a million dollars of coverage.
Consider Customer Service
Having a decent policy won't mean a thing if your insurance company's customer service is lackluster. Any time you actually need to file a claim or use your insurance, it'll require speaking with customer service. If they don't treat you like an individual or are more concerned about saving the company money than helping you, it could present you with problems. To avoid this issue, research your potential insurance company on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website. There, you can view a variety of records including customer experiences and complaints filed against each company. You'll want to avoid companies with a high complaint history.
That's all there is to it, really. With a keen eye on the details, you should be able to find an insurance plan that suits your needs and actually takes care of you. Pay attention to the fine print and you'll simultaneously avoid the bad deals and find the good ones.