How Much Does 1993 Pontiac Sunbird Insurance Cost?

Have you finally had enough of scraping nickels together to pay auto insurance each month? You are no different than millions of other drivers.

There is such a variety of insurance companies to choose from, and though it is a good thing to have a selection, it makes it harder to compare rates and find the lowest cost auto insurance.

Decisions you make can impact your insurance costs

It’s important that you understand a few of the rating criteria that help calculate car insurance rates. If you have a feel for what determines base rates, this enables you to make decisions that may reward you with lower rates. Multiple criteria are part of the equation when quoting car insurance. Some factors are common sense such as your driving record, but other factors are more obscure such as your credit history or how financially stable you are.

Listed below are most of the major factors that factor into prices.

  • Policy add-ons can waste money – There are many extra add-on coverages that may not really be needed on your Sunbird policy. Insurance for replacement cost coverage, towing coverage, and extra life insurance coverage could be just wasting money. You may think they are a good idea at first, but if you don’t need them eliminate them to save money.
  • Combine and save – Most major companies allow a discount to customers who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount applied, drivers will still want to compare other company rates to help guarantee you have the best rates.
  • Job stress can make you pay more – Jobs such as military generalspolice officers and medical professionals are shown to have the highest average rates because of intense work requirements and incredibly demanding work hours. On the other hand, careers such as actors, engineers and performers have the lowest average rates for Sunbird coverage.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free – Insurance companies generally give better rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Your insurance policy is designed for claims that pose a financial burden.
  • Traffic violations will cost you – Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Just one speeding ticket or other violation can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who have severe violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find that they have to to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state in order to prevent their license from being revoked.
  • High credit means lower prices – Having a good credit score is likely to be a major factor in determining what you pay. Insureds with very good credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records as compared to drivers with bad credit. If your credit rating leaves room for improvement, you could save money insuring your 1993 Pontiac Sunbird if you improve your credit rating.
  • Continuous coverage lowers prices – Letting your insurance expire is a guaranteed way to pay more for car insurance. Not only will you pay more, not being able to provide proof of insurance could earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You will then be forced to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with your state department of motor vehicles.
  • Marriage is a good thing – Having a spouse may cut your premiums on your car insurance policy. It means you’re more stable financially and insurance companies reward insureds because married couples file fewer claims.

Lower-cost car insurance rates with discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise every possible discount very clearly, so the below list has both the well known and also the lesser-known discounts that may be available.

  • Discounts for Good Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can save up to 40% or more on their insurance coverage quote for Sunbird coverage than their less cautious counterparts.
  • Theft Prevention Discount – Cars optioned with advanced anti-theft systems are stolen with less frequency and that can save you a little bit as well.
  • No Accidents – Drivers who stay claim-free have much lower rates as opposed to bad drivers.
  • Discounts for Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% for Sunbird coverage with select insurance companies.
  • E-sign – Some larger companies give back up to $50 for signing up on your computer.
  • Full Payment Discount – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you can avoid monthly service charges.
  • Include Life Insurance and Save – If the company offers life insurance, you could get better rates if you take out life insurance.
  • Own a Home and Save – Just being a homeowner can save you money because it shows financial diligence.
  • First Accident Forgiveness – Not really a discount, but some companies like Progressive, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual will let one accident slide before they charge you more for coverage if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.

As a sidenote, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount will help lower your premiums.

A list of car insurance companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts are outlined below.

  • GEICO offers discounts including membership and employees, seat belt use, air bags, good student, military active duty, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy.
  • Auto-Owners Insurance has savings for air bags, anti-lock brakes, safe vehicle, paid in full, multi-policy, and student away at school.
  • American Family discounts include defensive driver, good driver, good student, mySafetyValet, Steer into Savings, early bird, and accident-free.
  • Esurance offers premium reductions for anti-theft, anti-lock brakes, DriveSense, Switch & Save, and multi-policy.
  • Progressive has discounts for homeowner, good student, online signing, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, and online quote discount.
  • State Farm may have discounts that include student away at school, Steer Clear safe driver discount, good student, defensive driving training, driver’s education, passive restraint, and safe vehicle.
  • AAA may offer discounts for AAA membership discount, multi-car, pay-in-full, anti-theft, and good student.

Before buying, ask every company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts may not be offered in every state. To choose companies that offer discounts, follow this link.

Can you really save that much by switching?

Insurance providers like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. They all say the same thing about savings just by switching your policy. How is it possible that every company can have lower policy pricing? This is how they do it.

Many companies provide the lowest rates for the type of driver that will add to their bottom line. For example, this type of risk profile could possibly be a married female, has no claims, and insures a new vehicle. A driver who meets those qualifications will get a cheap rate quote and have a good chance to save a lot if they switch.

People who do not meet these stringent criteria will be quoted a higher rate which results in the customer buying from someone else. If you pay close attention to the ads, they say “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much when switching. That’s why insurance companies can lure you into getting a quote. That is why drivers must get as many free insurance coverage quotes as possible. It’s not possible to predict which insurance company will have better premium rates than you’re paying now.

Tailor your insurance coverage coverage to you

When buying coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether you may require specific advice.

  • When should I remove comp and collision on my 1993 Pontiac Sunbird?
  • Should I bundle my homeowners policy with my auto?
  • What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • Is upholstery damage covered by car insurance?
  • What is the minimum liability in my state?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
  • Do I need an umbrella policy?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Car insurance coverages for a Pontiac Sunbird

Having a good grasp of auto insurance aids in choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on most auto insurance policies.

Auto liability insurance – This protects you from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 100/300/100 that means you have a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000.

Liability can pay for things such as funeral expenses, structural damage and medical expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.

Collision coverage – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers things such as crashing into a ditch, crashing into a building and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive insurance – This pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive can pay for claims like damage from flooding, hail damage, theft, hitting a deer and rock chips in glass. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for expenses like dental work, funeral costs and chiropractic care. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

Final considerations

You just read a lot of techniques to lower your 1993 Pontiac Sunbird insurance premium rates. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of getting the cheapest insurance coverage. You may even discover the lowest premium rates come from the smaller companies. Regional companies may have significantly lower prices on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

As you quote insurance coverage, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at the best price and still be able to protect your assets.

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