If you’re buying your first car, look into Farmers when you consider insuring it
If you are a first-time car buyer, you will need to consider which company to purchase auto insurance from. You may want to consider Farmers car insurance for the first-time car buyer as they have a variety of policy and price options.
Legal limits
If you are a first-time car buyer, you may not be familiar with some car insurance basics. There are many levels of coverage you can get for your car and for your driving circumstances, all of which will impact ultimately what you pay for car insurance coverage.
One of the first things you will want to familiarize yourself with as a first-time car buyer researching car insurance coverage is what your state’s unique car insurance requirements are. Each state has some form of mandatory insurance or proof of financial responsibility limits that apply to all licensed drivers and car owners. Generally, these requirements are minimum levels of liability insurance coverage you must have, although several states also require you to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage.
Financing your car?
If you are paying cash for your first car, you may only have to acquaint yourself with your state’s mandatory minimum insurance requirements. If you are leasing or financing the purchase of your first car, your leasing agency or your lender may require you to carry additional lines of coverage such as uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage or even comprehensive or collision coverage. Read your leasing or financing documents thoroughly to be sure you will be in compliance when you go to insure your first car.
What will it cost?
Typically, first-time car buyers pay higher premiums. This is because insurance companies take into consideration the amount of time that a driver has continuously carried auto insurance, as well as how long you have been driving. This may initially put you at a disadvantage with some companies, but Farmers does have some discount options available, even for first-time car buyers. Some of the Farmers discounts that a first-time car buyer may be able to tale advantage of include:
- Alternative fuel discounts – if you’re buying a hybrid or an electric car for your first car, you can get a discount on your premium
- Safe driving discounts – if you’ve been driving for some time and have gone three consecutive years (this time period can vary from state to state) without a moving violation or an accident, you can get a discount on your premium
- Multi-line discount – while this may be your first car, if you combine or bundle other Farmers products such as renters or homeowners insurance, you will get a discount on your car insurance premium
You can also cut down on the cost of insurance by purchasing a lower-powered car, a newer car or a car that features any number of safety devices. Before you decide on a car to buy, check with a Farmers agent to see what the typical premium would be for your future car. Agents can often help you to determine which car will save you money in the long run.
How much coverage?
First-time car buyers choosing insurance from Farmers have many different types of coverage to select from. A full coverage package would include both liability and levels of personal vehicle coverage. Full coverage is more expensive than basic liability coverage, but it does allow you to be protected from a host of potential costs down the road. As a first-time car buyer, you will wan to weigh a number of factors when deciding how much coverage to carry.
In addition to basic levels of car insurance coverage, Farmers offers some generous add-on features that could prove useful for a first-time car buyer:
- HelpPoint® roadside assistance
- HelpPoint® windshield glass repair & replace services
- Car rental reimbursement
- Personal umbrella insurance
(Refer to this guide for a complete list and details of all the car insurance products and services available through Farmers)
Auto insurance policies can be customized to fit your needs and as a first-time car buyer, you will likely have many questions. Contacting a local Farmers agent directly will give you an excellent opportunity to explore all of your options and Reply! can help by putting you in contact with local agents eager to answer all of your questions.