2012 BMW 3 Series Car Insurance Rates – 10 Tips to Save

Searching for better insurance rates? Consumers have options when looking for affordable BMW 3 Series insurance. You can either spend your time calling around to get rate comparisons or leverage the internet to get rate quotes.

There are both good and bad ways to buy insurance so you’re going to learn the proper way to get price quotes for a BMW and get the lowest possible price either online or from local insurance agents.

Best discounts on BMW 3 Series coverage

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. Some discounts apply automatically at quote time, but a few need to be specially asked for before you get the savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Drivers Education – Have your child take driver’s ed class in school.
  • Discount for New Cars – Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% compared to insuring an older model.
  • Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
  • Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Drive Less and Save – Fewer annual miles on your BMW could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Senior Discount – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for better insurance rates on 3 Series coverage.
  • Early Signing – A few companies offer discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
  • College Student – Any of your kids who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay much less when compared with accident-prone drivers.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck. But any discount will cut your premiums.

A partial list of companies who might offer these money-saving discounts may include but are not limited to:

Before buying, ask every prospective company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts may not be available in every state.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Every situation is different.

These are some specific questions may help highlight if you would benefit from professional advice.

  • Do I need more liability coverage?
  • What if I owe more than I can insure my car for?
  • Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
  • What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
  • Is extra glass coverage worth it?
  • Am I covered if I hit a deer?
  • If my pet gets injured in an accident are they covered?
  • What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in my state?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.

Auto insurance coverage breakdown

Having a good grasp of a auto insurance policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like damage from flooding, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and theft. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance covers damage to your 3 Series from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against things such as damaging your car on a curb, crashing into a building and sustaining damage from a pot hole. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

Liability coverage

Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. It protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit which combines the three limits into one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability can pay for claims such as repair costs for stationary objects, legal defense fees, bail bonds, emergency aid and structural damage. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but buy higher limits if possible.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for expenses for dental work, surgery, funeral costs, chiropractic care and prosthetic devices. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Most of the time your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Shop smart and save

When buying insurance coverage, never buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many cases, an insured cut full coverage only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford.

Consumers leave their current company for a number of reasons such as high prices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, policy non-renewal or unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a new company is not as difficult as it may seem.

We just covered some good ideas how you can compare 2012 BMW 3 Series insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a lesser-known regional company.

Additional information can be found at the links below