1996 GMC Sonoma Insurance Quotes – 10 Savings Tips

Searching for cheaper car insurance rates for your GMC Sonoma? I can’t think of anyone who enjoys paying for car insurance, in particular when they could find lower prices if they just compared rates.

Multiple auto insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare car insurance companies and uncover the absolute best price available.

You need to quote other rates before your next renewal because car insurance prices change frequently. Just because you had the best price on Sonoma insurance six months ago you will most likely find a better rate today. You can find a lot of information about car insurance online but we’re going to give you a lot of great tips on how to find cheap car insurance.

Auto Insurance Discounts

Not many people think insurance is cheap, but you may find discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain credits will be shown when you get a quote, but occassionally some discounts must be requested specifically before you will receive the discount.

  • Low Mileage Discounts – Low annual miles may allow you to get better premium rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Onboard Data Collection – Insureds who allow driving data collection to scrutinize driving patterns by using a telematic data system such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system might get better premium rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
  • Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents get the best auto insurance rates in comparison with drivers who are more careless.
  • Discount for Home Ownership – Just owning your own home may earn you a small savings since owning and maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Life Insurance Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a break if you buy some life insurance too.
  • Discounts for New Vehicles – Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper because newer vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Anti-theft System – Cars equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10% off your auto insurance quote.
  • Seat Belt Discounts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle up before driving can save 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
  • Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates on Sonoma insurance than drivers with accidents.
  • Discount for Passive Restraints – Factory options such as air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings of 25 to 30%.

As a footnote on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Even though the math looks like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will lower your overall premium however.

Some of the insurance companies that may offer these benefits include:

Before buying, ask each company which discounts you qualify for. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be offered on policies in every state. To view companies who offer cheap auto insurance quotes, click this link.

Slick advertising tricks that work

Companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm continually stream ads in print and on television. All the ads make the point that you can save if you change to their company. How does every company save you money? This is how they do it.

Auto insurance companies offer their best rates for the type of driver that will add to their bottom line. One example of a driver they prefer might be described as over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Someone that meets those criteria will get a cheap rate quote and have a good chance to save when switching.

Consumers who are not a match for these standards will see a higher rate with the end result being the customer not purchasing. If you pay attention, the ads say “customers who switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save money. This is how companies can advertise the way they do.

This really drives home the point why drivers must do a price quote comparison at every renewal. It’s just not possible to know which auto insurance company will give you lower prices than your current company.

Tailor your auto insurance coverage to you

When buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions can aid in determining if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
  • I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
  • Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
  • Why do I only qualify for high-risk insurance?
  • Where can I get insurance after a DUI in my state?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
  • Do I need motorclub coverage?
  • Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
  • What is medical payments coverage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Auto insurance coverage options for a GMC Sonoma

Knowing the specifics of your policy can help you determine which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Comprehensive auto coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like rock chips in glass, damage from a tornado or hurricane, damage from getting keyed, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and a broken windshield. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Auto liability insurance

This coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see policy limits of 100/300/100 that translate to $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which limits claims to one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability can pay for things like medical services, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.

Collision protection

This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Sonoma resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision can pay for things like rolling your car, colliding with another moving vehicle, colliding with a tree and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for things like nursing services, rehabilitation expenses and surgery. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover you and your occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection 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, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Usually these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Be a money saver!

Cheaper 1996 GMC Sonoma insurance can be sourced on the web as well as from independent agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies do not provide price quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agencies.

When buying insurance coverage, never buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The aim is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Additional insurance coverage information can be read at the links below