Auto Insurance - Safeco

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Category: Car
Published on Monday, 26 July 2010 07:21

safeco-autoCars Are Complicated. Your Car Insurance Doesn’t Need To Be. At Safeco, we work to make the process of buying auto insurance as simple as possible. With Safeco Insurance, you can be sure you'll have quality coverage and value.

Determining Your Auto Insurance Needs

Everything from your vehicle's make, model and safety features to your driving record and annual mileage may have an influence on your auto insurance premium. And you may be eligible for credits or discounts on your premium. Have a teen driver? Safeco can help you keep teens safer on the road.

Your Auto Insurance Coverage Options

Auto insurance policies can provide basic protection for damage to your car, injuries and normal liability, as well as extra protection for emergencies, repairs and personal property. Choose the coverage that’s right for you from Safeco’s range of policy options.

Get Started

There are three ways Safeco helps you get the best auto insurance protection:
  • Work with an independent Safeco agent. They identify the best combination of coverage, value, and price for you. And they make sure your insurance continually meets your changing needs.
  • If you'd rather do it yourself, you can get a car insurance quote right away.
  • Or, call 1-800-4-Safeco


Determining Your Auto Insurance Needs

When choosing auto insurance, you want thorough coverage for the best price.

There’s a lot to think about when you're choosing auto insurance. In some states, to license your car you must carry liability coverage for damages incurred by others if you cause an accident, or no-fault coverage to pay for medical and related expenses for you and your passengers caused by injuries from a car accident, regardless of fault; or carry both. Without car insurance, you risk paying the full cost of:

  • Medical costs due to injury to yourself or others.
  • Repairing or replacing your car if it's damaged or stolen.
  • Damage or injury from an auto accident with an uninsured driver.
  • Damage to your vehicle when it’s parked at your home or a public place.

So, how can you tell what amount of coverage is best for you? Consider your driving profile.

  • What kind of car do you drive? Coverage on your vehicle depends on its value. The less expensive the car, the lower the insurance premium you generally pay.
  • How much do you drive? Drivers who use their car for business and long-distance commuting normally pay more than those who drive less.
  • What’s your age, gender, and marital status? Statistics show accident rates are impacted by a driver's age, gender, and marital status. If there are multiple drivers in your household, that can also affect your price. Parents can lower risk by keeping teens safer on the road.
  • Where do you live? Your location, and whether you’re a homeowner or renter, will affect your car insurance payment.
  • What is your driving record? Drivers with a history of accidents or chargeable motor vehicle violations (e.g. speeding ticket) generally pay more than those who are accident-free for several years.
  • What is your credit history? Many insurance companies consider credit history when determining an individual's rate.

 

Ask Your Agent

Your independent Safeco agent can help you find insurance that meets your specific needs. Here are a few things to discuss when you talk:

  • How much can I afford to pay if my car is in an accident, damaged, or stolen?
  • What would my cost savings be if I raised my deductible?
  • Can I get discounts for taking safety classes or having multiple policies?
  • Will I save money if my car is stored in a garage, or if I belong to an auto association?
  • How much medical and liability coverage should I have?

 


Understanding Your Auto Insurance Coverage

We're always looking for ways to make having a Safeco Auto Insurance policy simpler and better. And we start by helping you understand your coverage options and how they fit your needs. Your policy is comprised of the options you select, so how much you'll pay depends on:

  • What you buy. Coverages are priced individually, so how much you'll pay depends on how many coverages and at what limits you select. You can also consider an umbrella insurance policy that extends your coverage.
  • How much each will cover. Deductibles lower the premium price by shifting part of the loss payment to you. For example, if you had a $500 deductible, you would need to pay the first $500 of the covered loss. Higher deductibles generally lower your premium, but increase the amount you must pay if a loss occurs.

Here's what most people consider for coverage. (Note: coverage availability may vary by state.)

A basic auto insurance policy provides protection to you and others, including:

  • Liability Coverage for damages incurred by others if you cause an accident.
  • Permissive User Coverage for when you lend your vehicle to other individuals and they cause an accident.
  • Around-the-Clock Claims Support for helping you through incidents ranging from minor fender benders to natural disasters.

Most people also choose some or all of these additional protections:

  • Physical Damage Protection for repairing your car after an accident.
  • Personal Injury Protection/Medical Coverage for assistance if you or your passengers are injured.
  • Comprehensive Coverage pays for damage done to your car in some way other than a collision, such as if it were stolen or vandalized.
  • Uninsured Motorist Protection for damages you are legally entitled to recover from a driver without liability insurance or a hit-and-run driver.
  • Underinsured Motorist Protection for damages you are legally entitled to recover that exceed the at fault driver's insurance limits.

 

Optional Coverages for your Auto - e.g. New York

Safeco also offers additional coverage options which can give you even greater protection and peace of mind knowing that you're better prepared for the unexpected.

You may choose to add some individual coverage options for things that are important to you, such as:

  • Rental Car ("Loss of Use") for covering the expenses of renting a car while yours is being repaired after a claim.
  • Audio, Visual and Customized Equipment for covering permanently installed audio/visual equipment in your vehicle and customization at limits you select, up to $5,000.
  • Loan and Lease Coverage for paying the difference between the unpaid amount due on the loan or lease and the actual cash value of the vehicle.
  • New Vehicle Replacement Coverage for paying the full purchase price for your brand new vehicle for the first year of ownership in the event of a total loss.
  • Roadside Assistance for paying reasonable towing charges if your car is disabled.

Safeco also offers a great value with its Safeco Optimum Package Plus™. We’ve assembled up to 15 affordable policy enhancements for as little as $8* a month to provide you with premium auto coverage. It’s a minimal investment that delivers excellent benefits. The Safeco Optimum Package Plus includes**:

  • Diminishing Deductible decreases your collision deductible by $50 every six months you remain claim-free, up to a maximum of $500.
  • Accident Forgiveness – the first accident on your policy is waived after only 3 years without an at-fault collision or violation while insured with Safeco.
  • Waiver of Adjustment for Depreciation or Betterment pays for parts on those items that often wear-out (e.g. tires, breaks, etc.) when damaged.
  • Pet Coverage pays up to $500 for veterinary expenses or death benefit if your cat or dog is injured or dies in collision while in a covered or non-owned auto.
  • Worldwide Rental Coverage extends comprehensive and collision coverage (not liability coverage) to any rental car worldwide, subject to your policy deductible. Coverage provided under the base policy, including liability, is already extended to vehicles rented in the US and Canada.
  • Comprehensive Deductible Waiver waives the comprehensive deductible after a total loss.
  • Electronic Lock/Key Replacement Deductible Waiver will replace lost or stolen electronic keys and locks without applying your deductible.
  • Emergency Expenses will pay up to $200 for expense due to vehicle disablement and up to $1000 for emergency transportation, meals, and lodging in the event of an accident more than 25 miles away from home.
  • Liability Coverage for Punitive Damages waives the exclusion for punitive or exemplary damages (where allowed).
  • Personal Property Coverage pays up to $1000 for items damaged or stolen from your vehicle.
  • Tapes, records, disks and other media covers up to $500 for tapes, records, disks and other media.
  • Death Benefits pays a benefit of $2000 per fatality and any unused medical payments limit, if medical payments coverage applies to the policy. Pays a benefit of $2,000 per fatality if only Personal Injury Protection coverage applies to the policy ($4,000 maximum).
  • Increased Loss of Income pays $400 per day when we request you attend a trial or hearing.


Safeco Optimum Package Plus also includes the following two bonus coverages that can come in handy:

  • Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Deductible Waiver will waive the deductible applied to repair damage caused to your vehicle by an uninsured driver (where applicable).
  • Non-Owned Trailer Coverage covers trailers you may rent or borrow for moving or hauling items, up to $3,000.


*The cost of Safeco Optimum Package Plus is based on the underlying coverage; the price will vary depending on the coverage carried on the policy.
** Coverage afforded in Safeco Optimum Package Plus is based on the underlying coverage carried on the policy and may vary by state.

The material on this Web site is for informational purposes only. Nothing stated herein creates a contract. All statements made are subject to the provisions, exclusions, conditions and limitations of the applicable insurance policy. If the information on this site conflicts with the policy language that it describes, the policy language prevails.

 

Source: Safeco Insurance