Buying car insurance on-line?

At Brew City Insurance it is our mission to offer customers a truly exceptional insurance buying experience. We provide our customers with the knowledge to choose the best possible insurance products that fulfill their wants and needs. Our friendly, knowledgeable and professional staff will help inspire, problem-solve, and best of all EDUCATE our customers so they can choose the coverage that best fits at a reasonable price.

Buying insurance on-line or from a 1-800 number can be a tricky proposition. Simply fill out their on-line form and you are all set ~ right? But, how much coverage is right? What should my deductible be? Do I need full coverage? Who can you ask? Well....on-line insurance companies use some slick techniques to lower your rates ~ like limit hiring any actual human sales representatives or even offering you a super high deductible. Do you have an extra $2,500 to spare?

So now it is completely up to you to navigate the complex world of auto insurance. I don’t even have to stress how important it is to understand what’s covered by your auto insurance policy. The main problem is ~ most people not only don’t understand what is covered, but don’t even know how much each coverage is actually costing them. And when does your deductible apply? So here is a simplified Auto Insurance 101 to point you in the right direction.

Car insurance is actually a package of 6 possible different types of coverage that are each priced separately with different rules as to when your deductible applies:

• Collision ~ this coverage pays to repair your vehicle when you have an accident with another car — even if the crash is your fault. Your deductible will apply.

• Comprehensive coverage ~ pays to repair your vehicle or reimburse a loss that occurs due to something other than a collision, like fire, hail, flood, vandalism, or hitting an animal. Your deductible will apply.

• Property damage coverage (no deductible) ~ pays for damage you cause to someone else’s car or property, such as a mailbox, fence, or building. Most people think that $10,000 is enough. REALLY? What do you think it would cost if you rear-ended a Mercedes Benz? What if a multi-car accident is your fault? Is $10,000 even close to enough? So who gets to pay the balance? That’s right ~ YOU DO!

• Bodily injury liability coverage (no deductible) ~ pays for injuries that you cause to someone else. This covers the occupants of the other car (not your passengers). Wisconsin only requires $25,000 per person and $50,000 (known as $25/50) per accident. So let’s say that you slide through a red light in one of our many snow storms and you t-bone a family of four and put them all in the hospital. Each person could potentially have medical bills exceeding $25,000. But ~ your insurance would only cover the $50,000 MAXIMUM payout for that accident. You are completely responsible for ALL of the claims over that amount. Any and all assets you have (including your house, 401K, and bank accounts etc.) are at risk and can be seized in order to satisfy any judgments against you. That $25/50 doesn’t look like such a good idea now does it? Especially when getting $100/300 ($100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident) is really only a few more dollars a year more.

• Medical payments coverage (no deductible) ~ pays for any injuries that you or the passengers of your vehicle have due to an accident. It can cover a variety of expenses, like medical treatment, lost wages, and funeral expenses.

• Uninsured and under-insured motorist coverage (no deductible) ~ pays when you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have auto insurance. It also covers you in a hit-and-run situation or when an at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your loss. Bet you didn’t know however, that you must prove that the hit-and-run driver did not have insurance.

Bottom Line ~ Cheaper isn’t always better. Most customers will flock to find the cheapest car insurance quote, however, it does come at a price. On-line companies are all about NOT using an actual human to sell you insurance. It is pretty obvious what will happen when you have an issue. You won’t have an actual agent to call if things go wrong. You’ll have a 1-800 number to call. It is certainly not in the best interest of on-line companies to go out of their way help you.

Many people have questions when buying insurance. My advice is ALWAYS the same ~ your best bet is to go to an independent insurance agency who can assess your needs and help you get the best insurance for your needs at the best possible price. When you buy insurance from a local independent insurance agent, they actually act as an advocate to represent you to your insurance company. They are there to protect your interests, your family, and you.

Would you like to save money, get great insurance, AND have a great agent???

Brew City Insurance is a great place to start.

Come in to Brew City Insurance for a no-obligation insurance review.

We will make sure you and all your family are safe all year long.

Brew City Insurance Agency Inc. is located 2937 S Chicago Ave. in South Milwaukee between Pick N Save and Walgreens.

Stop in today and see what we can do for you! Or call 414-762-6600 and we can quote you right over the phone.

Visit our web page to find out more! http://www.brewcityinsurance.com