Lower Your 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Insurance Cost

Consumers have options when looking for low-cost Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class insurance. You can either waste hours driving around getting price quotes or leverage the internet to make rate comparisons. There are both good and bad ways to find car insurance online so you’re going to learn the absolute fastest way to quote coverages for a new or used Mercedes-Benz and get the cheapest rates either online or from local insurance agents.

You should take the time to check car insurance prices on a regular basis because insurance rates change frequently. Even if you got the best deal for SLK-Class insurance a few years ago you may be paying too much now. There is too much inaccurate information about car insurance on the web, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn some good information on how to quit paying high car insurance rates.

Choosing the best insurance company for you is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using these tips. Consumers just need to understand the most efficient way to get comparison rates over the internet.

Save money by taking advantage of these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t list all available discounts very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Life Insurance Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Safety Course Discount – Successfully completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
  • Own a Home – Being a homeowner can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down on your Mercedes-Benz can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Early Signing – Some companies give discounts for signing up before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
  • Discount for Good Grades – A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
  • Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck.

Companies that may have these money-saving discounts may include but are not limited to:

Double check with each insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts might not apply in every state.

How to Compare Car Insurance Costs

There are multiple methods to shop for 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class car insurance, and some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You could waste time talking to insurance agencies in your area, or you can stay home and use the web to achieve your goal.

Many insurance companies take part in a program where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and each participating company returns a rated price based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests to every company.

To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here (opens in new window).

One minor caviat to using this type of form is you cannot specify which companies to receive prices from. If you wish to select individual companies to compare prices, we have a listing of car insurance companies in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.

However you get your quotes, be sure to compare apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles with every price quote. If you have different values for each quote it’s impossible to find the best deal for your Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class.

Why you might be paying too much to insure your Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining your insurance coverage rates. Understanding what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to better insurance coverage rates.

Listed below are some of the items used by your company to calculate prices.

  • Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates – Allowing your insurance coverage policy to lapse is a quick way to increase your insurance coverage rates. And not only will your rates increase, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with your state DMV.
  • Optional equipment can affect rates – Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your insurance coverage. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – The liability section of your policy is the protection if a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides legal defense coverage which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
  • Adjust deductibles and save – Physical damage deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and burglary. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive for SLK-Class insurance.
  • Better crash test results mean better rates – Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates. If your Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class earned at least four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org you are probably receiving a discount.
  • Your location affects your rates – Residing in a rural area has it’s advantages when talking about insurance coverage. Fewer people means fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. City drivers have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. More time commuting means more change of being in an accident.
  • High credit ratings translate to low rates – Having a bad credit rating is a big factor in determining your rates. People with good credit tend to be more responsible than drivers with poor credit. Therefore, if your credit rating can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class by improving your credit score.

When should I use an insurance agent?

When choosing coverage, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

For instance, these questions may help you determine if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Is pleasure use cheaper than using my 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class to commute?
  • Are rock chip repairs covered?
  • Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
  • Do I need rental car coverage?
  • Does my personal policy cover me when driving out-of-state?
  • Why is insurance for a teen driver so high?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.

Save $441 a year? Really?

Drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you switch your policy.

How can each company say the same thing?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver they prefer to insure. An example of a desirable insured might be profiled as a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Consumers who do not match the “perfect” profile will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. That is how insurance companies can state the savings. This emphasizes why you should compare as many rates as you can. It’s not possible to predict which insurance coverage company will fit your personal profile best.

Specific coverages for a 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for immediate expenses such as X-ray expenses, surgery, ambulance fees and nursing services. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers you and your occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Liability car insurance

Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for claims like court costs, legal defense fees, structural damage and medical expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford.

Coverage for collisions

This coverage pays for damage to your SLK-Class caused by collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as hitting a parking meter, crashing into a ditch and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Comprehensive insurance

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as falling objects, hitting a bird and damage from flooding. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

This gives you protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Make an honest buck

When trying to cut insurance costs, don’t be tempted to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where an insured cut liability coverage limits only to regret that they should have had better coverage. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price.

Insureds leave their current company for a variety of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, not issuing a premium refund, policy non-renewal and delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

Cost effective 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class insurance is attainable both online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some car insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

More detailed car insurance information can be read by following these links: