Asking for Quote Variations: Which Versions Are Worth Requesting
Most people ask for one quote, look at it, and then ask "what if we raised the deductible?" a day later. Each follow-up is a new round trip, sometimes on a slightly different date or with a detail entered differently. Asking for the versions together is faster and cleaner, and the comparison inside one company becomes obvious.
The versions worth asking for
| Version | What it shows you | When it is worth asking |
|---|---|---|
| Your current coverage, matched | The baseline every other version is measured against | Always |
| Higher liability limits | What more protection costs at this company | If you are at or near the legal minimum of $30,000, $60,000 and $15,000 |
| Uninsured motorist at limits matching your liability | The cost of matching protection if the other driver has none | If your current uninsured motorist limits are lower than your liability, or you rejected it |
| A different deductible, such as $500 against $1,000 | What the deductible trade is worth in premium | If you carry comprehensive and collision |
| With and without collision | Whether collision is still worth carrying | On an older car you own outright |
| Six-month and twelve-month terms | Whether the company prices the terms differently | If the company offers both |
| Pay in full and installments | The true cost of spreading payments | Whenever you could pay in full |
How to ask
Put it in one sentence at the start, by phone or in writing:
"Please quote three versions, all with the same drivers, cars and start date: A, my current coverage; B, the same but with liability at 100/300/100; C, the same as B with $1,000 deductibles."
Naming them A, B and C makes the replies easy to read and stops the versions from blurring together on the phone. It also makes it simple to say later exactly which version you want to buy.
How many is too many
Three or four versions is plenty. Beyond that the differences get small and the decision gets harder, not easier. Pick the versions that answer a question you actually have. If you would never drop collision, do not ask for a version without it.
A word on uninsured motorist
Uninsured motorist coverage is part of every bodily injury liability policy in California unless the named insured signs a written agreement to delete it or to take lower limits, which can never be below the financial-responsibility minimums (Insurance Code 11580.2). A version that leaves it out is not just a cheaper option; it requires your signature. Ask for it to be shown both ways so you decide it deliberately.
Reading the versions
- Confirm every version uses the same drivers, cars, term and start date.
- Write the difference between each version and the baseline, for the term.
- Ask yourself whether each change is worth its difference, for your situation.
- If you are quoting several companies, ask each for the same versions, so the step from A to B can be compared across companies too.
Changing your mind before you buy
Choosing version B and then asking to swap one line from C is fine before binding. Just ask for a final written quote of the exact combination you are buying, so the application matches it. If you would like versions prepared for you, list them in the message when you use our quote form.
Where this comes from
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Will asking for several versions slow my quote down?
Slightly, but far less than asking for them one at a time afterwards. The versions are built on the same details, so the extra work is small.
Do I need a new record check for each version?
Usually not. The versions differ only in coverage, not in the drivers or cars, so the same checks apply to all of them.
Can I combine lines from different versions?
Yes, before you buy. Ask for a final written quote of the exact combination, so the application and the policy match what you chose.