Consumer Reports Car Insurance Recommendations

Consumer Reports car insurance recommendations suggest that you shop around for price quotes every year when it is time for your auto insurance coverage to renew. They also offer guidance and explanations of the different types of available car insurance options, as well as tips on saving money on car insurance.

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Taking the time to learn as much as possible on the subject makes you a good consumer. Unbiased third party resources like Consumer Reports are a good first stop in the auto insurance buying journey.

Consumer Reports Car Insurance Coverage Suggestions

One of the top suggestions for car insurance from the renowned Consumer Reports is to shop around each year for new price quotes on car insurance, even if you are happy with the coverage and premium you have.

Many consumers keep the same policy with the same company for years and spend more than they need to, simply because they don’t comparison shop when it’s time to renew.

Consumer Reports also suggests that you carry the right amount of coverage for your car.

That means finding out the state minimums applicable and carrying at least this amount. In most states, liability is required but the mandatory levels are very low compared to what could be needed.

Therefore, good suggestions are $100,000 bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident in total and $100,000 property damage per accident.

Learn about other types of car insurance coverage that you might need or want.

• Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is required in many states also. It is also a very good choice to carry in states where it is not mandatory.
• Collision and comprehensive coverage are necessary if your vehicle is financed, but this requirement comes from the lender, not the state.
• Personal injury protection and medical payments coverage are also good types of coverage to carry.

Consumer Reports Car Insurance Tips for Saving Money

If you are looking to save money on your car insurance coverage take the time to learn about the different factors that affect the cost of your coverage, as well as the types of discounts offered by insurers:

• Your driving record has a major impact on the price of coverage. Keep it clean in order to save on the cost of coverage. High-risk drivers always pay higher rates.
• The type of car you drive impacts how much it will cost for coverage. Before purchasing a vehicle, check out the cost to insure it.
• Restrict the number of miles you put on your car annually. By driving fewer miles, your insurance will cost less. Low mileage discounts are available.
• Make sure you get any car insurance discounts you are eligible for, like group discounts, safety equipment discounts, multi-car discounts and multi-line discounts.
• Take driver training courses when possible to earn price breaks on your insurance plan.
• If you have a young driver on your policy and they are attending school more than 100 miles from where you live, let your insurer know for big savings.

Consumer Reports Car Insurance Purchasing Tips

Before you buy car insurance, Consumer Reports, and many other groups recommend that you do a lot of shopping around in order to get the best deal possible. Get multiple quotes from different insurers in order to compare them carefully.

A free online car insurance quote tool run by an independent third party provider can provide you with those quotes quickly and easily.

Look at the fine print on the policies you are considering, especially any quotes that are significantly lower than the others. After you establish that you are actually comparing similar policies, you can narrow down your choices based on price.

Following this step you will need to check out the companies themselves.

Learn as much as you can about the financial strength of a company and how it treats its customers. To get information on the economic stability of a company, get its independent insurance rating from one of the firms that do such grading, like A.M. Best or Moody’s. They evaluate companies on a variety of financial factors.

To learn about an insurer’s customer service record, check with your state department of insurance. They keep information on complaints and their resolution, and will be able to let you know if the insurer is one that garners a lot of complaints or relatively few.

You can also get consumer opinions and experiences by doing an online search for reviews and complaints of the insurer by name.

Read more: Where to Find Car Insurance Company Reviews

When you shop for online quotes, keep the consumer reports car insurance guidelines in mind to help you make the best choice possible.

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Case Studies: Consumer Reports Car Insurance Recommendations

Case Study 1: The Annual Comparison Shopper

John has been with the same car insurance company for several years and has been satisfied with his coverage. However, after reading the recommendations from Consumer Reports, he decided to compare quotes from multiple insurance providers.

By doing so, John discovered that he could get the same coverage at a significantly lower premium with a different company. He made the switch and saved hundreds of dollars on his car insurance.

Case Study 2: The Proper Coverage Seeker

Sarah recently purchased a new car and wanted to ensure she had the right amount of coverage. She followed Consumer Reports’ advice and researched the state minimum requirements and recommended coverage levels. Sarah opted for $100,000 bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $100,000 property damage per accident.

Case Study 3: The Savvy Shopper

Mark was determined to save money on his car insurance premiums. He carefully studied the Consumer Reports car insurance tips for saving money and learned about the various factors that affect insurance costs and the available discounts. Armed with this knowledge, Mark requested quotes from multiple insurance companies and compared them thoroughly.

He discovered that by bundling his car insurance with his home insurance, installing safety equipment in his car, and maintaining a clean driving record, he could qualify for significant discounts and secure a lower premium.