Florida has more than 116,600 miles of public roads and is home to more than 7.4 million registered automobiles as of the year 2000. But to register a vehicle and drive on these roads residents first need to purchase auto coverage with Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL). Although policy prices in the Sunshine State do have a tendency to be more expensive than others, motorists who are willing to shop around may be able to find a cheap protection plan. Sometimes policy prices from different companies can differ by as much as 200 percent, so comparing estimates from several insurers may result in less expensive rates. Additionally, discounts can usually be used to decrease premium prices to even lower levels, and policies can typically be adjusted in order to alter a person’s coverage costs.
Residents in search of the best auto insurance in Florida can typically benefit from making multiple comparisons before deciding upon a specific policy. As previously mentioned, rates can sometimes be very different for protection plans offering the same amount of coverage. To have a better chance of finding one that is cheap, motorists may want to go online and complete a quick comparison. This usually only takes a few minutes and oftentimes produces dozens of estimates in one convenient location. Residents that plan to purchase a new or different automobile may want to try an online comparison before making a purchase because the type of vehicle that an individual drives can have a big impact on policy prices. Luckily these price comparisons are quick, easy, and come with no obligation to make a purchase, so residents can shop as often as they like.
As many Florida residents know, sales and special offers have a way of attracting customers. Many different coverage providers know this as well and typically offer a wide range of discounts for various reasons. These rate reductions can have a big impact on policy prices when they are combined, so it is important to contact several companies to learn about any potential savings before choosing a policy provider. Although nearly every company is unique, there are still a few discounts that are fairly common. This generally includes price reductions for clean driving records, having multiple vehicles on the same policy, remaining a customer for an extended period of time, or maintaining exceptional grades if the insured is in school. Another helpful way to lower prices for new or existing policyholders is to adjust the amount of coverage on a person’s policy.
According to a Traffic Crash Statistics Report 2009 published by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles the number of traffic crashes in 2009 decreased from 243,342 in 2008 to roughly 235,778. This may translate into a -3.1 percent decrease, but residents should know that an adequate automobile protection plan is still important to maintain. However, in some situations unnecessary coverage could lead to higher rates. Individuals that drive older cars with low monetary value may not benefit from such additions as Comprehensive and Collision coverage. Minor damages done to the vehicle may not exceed the deductible, and if the vehicle is totaled the coverage provider is likely to only pay the value of the car minus the deductible, which may not be enough money to justify paying for this policy addition. Smart shopping with many different comparisons and choosing a policy with the right amount of coverage can usually yield an adequately priced protection plan.
Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/florida/
