When looking for car insurance in Alberta, comparing quotes can be confusing and difficult. Are you comparing apples to oranges? Is the quote actually accurate? Does the lowest price offer the right coverage? There are many different factors to consider which is why this article will help you separate good car insurance quotes from bad ones, saving you time and money in the process.
1. How much will it cost?
For most people, price is the starting point. You want to know how much your car insurance premiums will cost you each month or each year. You should get an estimated cost when you get a car insurance quotes in Alberta, but you’ll want to consider the coverage as well – there’s no point paying for the cheapest insurance if you also don’t have the protection you want.
2. What is the deductible?
Another thing to look out for is the deductible. This is how much you pay when you make a claim. The lower the deductible, the higher your car insurance premiums will be.
A common deductible in Alberta is $500. Insurers may not offer lower deductibles but will often allow higher ones. Some insurance companies also have perks for long-term customers without claims: if you are claims free, your deductible may ‘disappear’ over time so that if you do have a claim, you won’t need to pay it.
3. What are the policy limits?
Your policy limits are vital. This is how much is covered by your insurer in the event of a claim. Different sections of coverage may also have different limits – i.e. the loss of use limit will be different than your third party liability limit if you’re involved in an accident.
You want to ensure you have enough coverage for your needs – we recommend having a minimum of $2 million third-party liability insurance but otherwise, you should speak to a broker if you’re unsure about your required policy limits.
4. What’s the claims process like?
Submitting a claim is never fun. You’ve been in an accident or had someone or something damage your car. You’ll want to consider what the claims process is like and how easy it is to make a claim. Check out reviews online and see if the insurer has a good reputation. You can also take a look at their online claims process and see how it works.
5. What’s included in your car insurance?
It’s important that you know what’s covered by your car insurance. For example, if you want access to a rental car if you have a claim, you’ll need loss of use coverage. You may also want roadside assistance – or want the absolute basic third party liability and accident benefits coverage.
In any case, you need to know what is included in each quote and each policy. Never assume – you’ll want to see what’s covered explicitly before you make a decision on the quote.
6. How easy is it to get the information you need?
Was it a struggle to get information? Hard to contact someone to ask a question? If so, it might not be a good place to put your business.
Remember – insurance companies and insurance brokers are different. A broker usually works with different insurance companies and provides independent insurance advice. An insurance company is who actually provides the insurance and processes claims.
In conclusion…
There are several factors to consider when choosing insurance. Insurance brokers can help with this process:
- They can help you figure out what coverage you need for your unique situation.
- They can answer any questions you might have and explain your policy clearly.
- They can compare multiple insurance companies to find the best price for the coverage you want.
Keep in mind that some brokers only work with one company so make sure you’re working with a broker who has access to multiple companies to get truly competitive rates and coverages. Here at A-WIN, we work with a large number of different companies to get competitive car insurance quotes. Give one of our branches a call or quest a quote online for your car insurance in Alberta.
