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Multi Car Insurance Quotes: Everything You Need to Know

Photo credit: Carl Court - Getty Images
Photo credit: Carl Court - Getty Images

What Is Multi-Car Insurance?

Multi-car insurance is any policy that includes more than one vehicle at a single address. When more than one driver lives at the same residence, they usually combine policies because it qualifies them for discounts. However, it is always a good idea to compare quotes and find out what discounts are available to determine if it is the right decision for you and your family.

Why Get Multi Car Insurance Quotes?

A multi-car insurance policy can provide you with significant cost savings — as much as 25 percent, according to Compare.com. Qualifying for this discount is also easy. In most cases, you just need to have more than one vehicle at the same address. Multi-car insurance policies can offer the following benefits:

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  • One deductible: With a multi-car policy, you are responsible for only one deductible, even if multiple vehicles are damaged in the same accident.

  • Available stacking: Some insurance companies also allow co-policyholders to stack coverages. This means you can combine benefits from multiple vehicles to one accident.

  • One payment/renewal date: Having one payment and renewal date is usually easier for members of the same household to remember.

  • Reduced rates: The most common reason, and one of the biggest benefits, is reduced rates. Simply by combining policies, you can decrease your insurance rates, and this rate usually applies to all vehicles on the policy.

Requesting multiple multi-car insurance quotes can help you choose the right provider.

Who Is Eligible for a Multi-Car Insurance Policy?

As long as your primary residence has multiple vehicles, then you should qualify for a multi-car insurance policy. Some providers might have other requirements, such as requiring policyholders to be related or limiting the number of vehicles on the policy to four. If you have more than four vehicles, however, your insurance company might make an exception. They might be able to create a separate policy that is linked to the first, so you can still receive the multi-car discount. Also, some insurance providers, such as GEICO and Progressive, allow more than four vehicles on a policy.

Some providers allow anyone living at the same residence to combine policies, including roommates or unmarried couples. Contact your provider to learn about their rules or requirements.

You can obtain multi-car insurance quotes the same way you would when searching for the best provider for a single vehicle. You need to input information about each vehicle and driver on the policy. This includes each vehicle's VIN, as well as each driver's license number. Most insurance providers will also ask you to assign a primary driver to each vehicle on the policy. It is best to assign higher-risk drivers, such as those 25 years and under or with numerous traffic violations, to vehicles with lower values.

How Much Is a Multi-Car Insurance Policy?

Multi-car insurance policies vary in price significantly from provider to provider. For this reason, it's important to compare prices before adding your vehicle to your partner's policy. A discount of 10 percent versus 20 percent can make a significant difference in your monthly payments.

Before changing your policy, request multi-car insurance quotes from multiple providers and compare them. Consider not only the price but also how much coverage each one offers. You might find the best rates with the following providers, according to Compare.com:

  • Amica Mutual: Multi-car insurance savings of as much as 25 percent

  • Direct General: Multi-car insurance savings of as much as 25 percent

  • Elephant Insurance: Multi-car insurance savings of as much as 30 percent

  • Infinity Insurance: Multi-car insurance savings of as much as 38 percent

Comparing quotes between providers can also help you decide if it makes sense to combine policies. Some drivers, especially those with many at-fault accidents or a DUI on their record, might increase the rates of other drivers on the policy so much that it doesn't make sense to combine them. You might also choose one of these larger insurance companies:

  • GEICO: Average annual rate of $651

  • Progressive: Average annual rate of $746

  • Allstate: Average annual rate of $1137

  • State Farm: Average annual rate of $1966

Many other factors go into the rates you can expect to pay besides having multiple vehicles on the insurance policy. Each driver's age, driving history, credit score, and the number of miles driven affect rates. It is also important to note that if you make any changes, such as taking a driver off your policy, your rates could go up.

Determining How Much Coverage You Need on Each Vehicle

The first thing to do when determining how much coverage you need on each vehicle is to understand the laws in your state. Additionally, if you have a loan on any vehicle, then you will likely need full coverage on it. Otherwise, you can adjust your coverage amount, as well as your deductible, to find the right level of coverage at a payment that fits your budget.

Most insurance providers also require that all vehicles have the same bodily injury and property damage liabilities. However, you can usually set things like comprehensive and collision separately. It is important to consider how much liability each driver needs and adjust as needed.

According to Insurance.com, state coverage requirements can be low and might not be enough for your situation. The site recommends a minimum of $100,000 medical coverage per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 in property damages per accident, regardless of your state's requirements.

Shopping around and comparing multi-car insurance quotes among providers can help you find the best, most competitive rates. Combining policies with other household members is usually the most affordable option when it comes to insurance. Check this out if you need additional information, resources, or guidance on car insurance.

Sources:

https://www.compare.com/auto-insurance/coverage/multi-car-insurance-quotes

https://www.insurance.com/auto-insurance/auto-insurance-basics/multi-car-policies.html

https://www.caranddriver.com/car-insurance/a35875586/car-insurance-for-19-year-olds/

https://www.caranddriver.com/car-insurance/a35906243/cheapest-insurance-for-leased-cars/

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