Best Ways to Save on Philadelphia Buick LaCrosse Insurance

How long have you put off shopping around for lower-priced Buick LaCrosse insurance in Philadelphia? Nobody I know likes paying for auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much.

Unthinkable but true, the vast majority of consumers kept their coverage with the same auto insurance company for over three years, and 38% of customers have never compared rates to find cheaper insurance. Many consumers in Pennsylvania can cut their rates by up to $700 a year just by comparing rates, but they don’t know the amount of money they would save if they replace their high priced policy. Since vehicle owners have many choices of insurance companies that have affordable insurance for a Buick LaCrosse in Philadelphia, it’s nearly impossible to pick a lower cost insurer.

It’s smart to compare rates periodically because prices trend upward over time. Just because you found the best rate on Buick LaCrosse insurance in Philadelphia a few years ago there may be better deals available now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re about to find out the quickest way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

These techniques will tell you the best way to quote coverages and some tricks to saving. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to save money using the concepts you’re about to learn. Smart shoppers just have to understand the proper way to compare rate quotes online.

Philadelphia insurance discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise the entire discount list very well, so the following list contains a few of the more well known and also the lesser-known discounts that you can inquire about if you buy Philadelphia auto insurance online. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

• Paperwork-free – A few larger online companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy over the internet.
• Drive Less and Save – Low annual miles can qualify you for substantially lower insurance rates.
• Own a Home – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings since owning and maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
• Full Payment Discount – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you can avoid the installment charge.
• Student Discounts – Being a good student may save you up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
• Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for several vehicles with the same insurance company qualifies for this discount.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, that’s just not realistic.

The diagram below shows the difference between Buick LaCrosse insurance costs with and without discounts. The premiums are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, homeowner, marriage, multi-policy, multi-car, and safe-driver discounts applied.

Some of the insurance companies who might offer some of the above discounts may include but are not limited to:

• AAA
• Progressive
• State Farm
• Esurance
• Nationwide

If you want affordable Buick LaCrosse insurance quotes, ask all the companies which credits you are entitled to. Some discounts listed above may not apply to policyholders in Philadelphia.

Finding a lower price on Buick LaCrosse insurance is an easy way to save money. You just have to take a few minutes getting comparison quotes from online providers.

It’s so simple to compare auto insurance quotes online makes it obsolete to physically go to local Philadelphia insurance agencies. Quoting Buick LaCrosse insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you have a need for the professional guidance that can only be provided by a licensed insurance agent. It is possible with some companies get the lowest quotes online but have a local agent actually write the policy.

The car insurance companies shown below have been selected to offer comparison quotes in Philadelphia, PA. If more than one company is shown, we recommend you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Analysis of Buick LaCrosse rates

The coverage table below covers detailed analysis of insurance rates for Buick LaCrosse models. Having a better idea how insurance rates are established can help customers make decisions on which coverage to buy.

Cost estimates assume married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Estimates do not factor in specific garaging location which can impact prices noticeably.

Should you raise deductibles?

One common question asked by Philadelphia drivers is where to set your physical damage deductibles. The following insurance rates can help you understand how much more you’ll pay of buying low and high deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $100 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second set of prices uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Rate quotes do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can lower or raise rates greatly.

Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible costs roughly $37 more each month or $444 every year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $900 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have at least 24 months between claims, you would probably be better off if you choose a higher deductible.

The information below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles and can change Buick LaCrosse insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The rates are based on a married male driver, full coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.

Full coverage or liability only

The example below illustrates the comparison of Buick LaCrosse auto insurance rates when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The data assumes no violations or claims, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied.

When to drop full coverage

There is no exact formula of when to exclude comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s say your Buick LaCrosse settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would get paid by your company is $3,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are currently paying more than $300 a year to have full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.

There are some scenarios where only buying liability is not recommended. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to keep full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should keep full coverage in place.

Car insurance is available from agents near you

Many people would rather go talk to an agent and often times that is recommended Professional agents can make sure you are properly covered and help submit paperwork. One of the benefits of comparing insurance prices online is that you can find cheap car insurance quotes and still buy from a local agent. Supporting neighborhood agents is especially important in Philadelphia.

For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, your coverage information is sent to local insurance agents in Philadelphia who will gladly provide quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no need to contact any insurance agencies because quoted prices will be sent to you instantly. If you wish to get a rate quote from a particular provider, you can always visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.

How to choose the best car insurance agent in Philadelphia

If you would like to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are a couple of types of agencies that you can select. Car insurance agents may be either independent or exclusive. Either can write policy coverage, but it’s a good idea to understand the difference in how they write coverage since it may influence which type of agent you select.

Independent Car Insurance Agencies or Brokers

These agents do not work for one specific company so as a result can place your coverage with an assortment of companies and potentially find a lower price. If they quote lower rates, they simply move your policy to a different company and you don’t have to do anything.

If you are comparing rate quotes, we highly recommend that you get quotes from several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Below is a small list of independent agencies in Philadelphia who can help you get comparison quotes.

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Exclusive Agents

Agents in the exclusive channel can only provide pricing for a single company and some examples include State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. Exclusive agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. They are very knowledgeable on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.

The following is a list of exclusive agents in Philadelphia who can help you get price quote information.

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Choosing a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price quote. These are some questions your agent should answer.

• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
• How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
• How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
• Will you work with the agent or an assistant?
• Do they offer accident forgiveness?
• Does the agency support the community they serve?

Upon receiving positive responses in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have found a car insurance agent that is professional and can provide car insurance coverage.

Insurance is an important decision

Despite the high insurance cost for a Buick LaCrosse in Philadelphia, paying for insurance is required for several reasons.

• Almost all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific level of liability insurance coverage in order to drive the car legally. In Pennsylvania these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
• If you bought your vehicle with a loan, more than likely the lender will stipulate that you have physical damage coverage to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the lender will be forced to insure your Buick at a much higher premium rate and require you to reimburse them the higher premium.
• Insurance protects both your car and your personal assets. Insurance will pay for many types of medical costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if you cause an accident and are sued. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, your insurance policy will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.

The benefits of buying insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially if you ever need it. According to a survey of 1,000 drivers, the average driver is overpaying more than $850 per year so it’s very important to do a rate comparison once a year at a minimum to help ensure money is not being wasted.

Specific coverages for a Buick LaCrosse

Understanding the coverages of your policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are the normal coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses such as ambulance fees, chiropractic care, hospital visits and prosthetic devices. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as damage from flooding, fire damage, a broken windshield and falling objects. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Auto collision coverage

This pays for damage to your LaCrosse from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers things such as crashing into a building, backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle, scraping a guard rail and driving through your garage door. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your LaCrosse to save money on collision insurance.

Auto liability

Liability coverage provides protection from damage that occurs to a person or their property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see values of 15/30/5 which stand for a limit of $15,000 per injured person, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Occasionally you may see a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage protects against claims like bail bonds, emergency aid and court costs. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. Pennsylvania requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but drivers should carry more liability than the minimum.

The illustration below demonstrates why buying the state minimum limits may not be adequate coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Buick LaCrosse.

Since many Pennsylvania drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (15/30/5 in Pennsylvania), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Most of the time your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Get the best coverage at the lowest price

As you restructure your insurance plan, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

In this article, we presented a lot of tips how to find cheap Buick LaCrosse insurance in Philadelphia. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the biggest savings come from a small local company. They may have significantly lower prices on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

Other information

• New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Who Has Affordable Philadelphia Auto Insurance for Low Credit Scores? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Safe Drivers in Philadelphia? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Nurses in Philadelphia? (FAQ)
• What is the Cheapest Car Insurance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania? (FAQ)
• State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)
• Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
• Rental Reimbursement Coverage (Allstate)