Car insurance policies are primarily designed to deal with big problems resulting from car crashes, theft, or weather-related disasters. However, insurance companies have added perks to their policies to show how their car insurance is better than that of their competition. These perks increase loyalty and can take some of the sting away from high car insurance rates. Because these perks represent extra benefits, there can be a considerable difference from one car insurance policy to another. The challenge for a consumer is to decide which perks are critical and which are not.

One of the most valuable perks is rental car insurance. This coverage provides for a rental car if your car is being repaired or has been in an accident. A car accident is stressful enough. You do not need to be worrying about how to get around afterward the crash. Car insurance policies may also offer additional medical coverage. This additional coverage does not usually increase your car insurance rate by much. Unexpected medical expenses, on the other hand, can be very costly. Extra medical coverage can also make it easier for you to get the care that you need if you are insured out of the coverage area for your regular health insurance. Another common perk is roadside assistance. This covers many of the little nuisances like flat tires, dead batteries, and being locked out of your car. Roadside assistance may not seem impressive on paper, but can make a huge difference if you are stranded at 2 a.m. in unfamiliar territory. This coverage is available elsewhere from organizations such as AAA; however, it is still worth looking into in order to compare the costs and options available.

The last category of car insurance perks is discounts, or reward programs. These can either be extremely valuable or completely worthless depending on the specifics of what is offered in relation to your lifestyle. As an example, discounts on hotel trips can be very valuable to a frequent traveler, but not to someone who stays closer to home. Car insurance companies may also offer free or reduced price magazine subscriptions. If one of your favorite magazines is on the list, you may want to consider this when comparing rates. Otherwise, it is not as valuable. Carefully examine any reward programs to decide if this perk is worthwhile for you.

It is easy to just look at the bottom line when you are pricing insurance policies, but take a few minutes to look at the little perks that could make a difference to you down the road. Ask about the specifics that each coverage type provides and compare these in regard to the car insurance rate versus the beefit(s) that it provides.