Cheaper 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Insurance Quotes

Drivers have options when trying to find the best price on Mercedes-Benz C-Class insurance. They can either spend hours contacting agents to compare prices or leverage the internet to get rate quotes.

There is a better way to buy insurance and you need to know the quickest way to quote coverages for a Mercedes-Benz and get the lowest price from local insurance agents and online providers.

What impacts Mercedes-Benz C-Class insurance rates?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating car insurance rates. If you have some idea of what influences your rates, this enables informed choices that can help you get cheaper rates. Lots of things are used in the calculation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving history, although others are not quite as obvious such as your credit history or how financially stable you are.

The following are just a few of the factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set your prices.

  • Liability is important – Liability coverage will protect you in the event that you are found to be at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so insureds should have plenty of protection for their assets.
  • Where you live can modify premiums – Living in a small town has definite advantages when talking about car insurance. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate. Urban drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and much longer commute distances. More time commuting statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.
  • Choose high NHTSA crash test ratings and save – Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles reduce the chance of injuries and fewer serious injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and thus lower rates. If your Mercedes-Benz C-Class has ratings of a minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website you are probably receiving a discount.
  • Good credit saves on car insurance – An insured’s credit rating factor in determining your rates. Insureds with high credit scores tend to be better risks to insure than those with poor credit scores. If your credit score is lower than you’d like, you could be paying less to insure your 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class if you clean up your credit.
  • Rates increase with policy add-ons – Insurance policies have a lot of optional add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your C-Class policy. Insurance for things like personal injury protection, high-cost glass coverage, and extra life insurance coverage could be just wasting money. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but if they’re wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

Cheap car insurance price quotes

There are multiple methods you can shop for car insurance and some are less time-consuming than others. You can spend your afternoon talking to insurance agencies in your area, or you could use the web to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Many insurance companies participate in a marketplace that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and each participating company can provide price quotes based on the submitted data. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions to every company.

To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click to open in new window.

One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is buyers cannot specifically choose which insurance companies to get quotes from. If you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have a page of low cost car insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.

Whichever way you use, make darn sure you compare nearly identical quote information for each price quote. If you use different deductibles it will be next to impossible to get a fair rate comparison.

Drivers who switch save $486 a year? Really?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings for switching from companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all say the same thing about how much you will save if you just switch your coverage.

How do they all offer drivers better rates? Here is the trick they use.

Most companies quote the lowest rates for the type of driver that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer may need to be over the age of 45, has a clear driving record, and drives a safe vehicle. Someone who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and have a good chance to save money with a new company.

People who are not a match for those standards may be required to pay higher rates and this can result in the prospect going elsewhere. If you pay close attention to the ads, they say “customers that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s why insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

This emphasizes why it’s extremely important to do a quote comparison often. It’s just too difficult to predict with any certainty which company will have the best rates for your profile.

Car insurance quotes and discounts

Car insurance can be pricey, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. Many discounts should be triggered when you quote, but some must be specifically requested before they will apply.

  • Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Options like air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
  • Accident Free – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims pay less when compared with drivers who are more careless.
  • Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could qualify for a slight premium decrease on C-Class coverage depending on your car insurance provider.
  • Save with More Vehicles Insured – Having multiple cars with the same car insurance company could earn a price break for each car.
  • Distant College Student Discount – College-age children who live away from home at college and don’t have a car could qualify for this discount.
  • Pay Early and Save – If you can afford to pay the entire bill instead of making monthly payments you may have a lower total premium amount.
  • Active Military Service – Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower prices.
  • Life Insurance – Not all car insurance companies offer life insurance, but some may give you a break if you buy life insurance.
  • Own a Home and Save – Owning a home may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.

Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Despite the appearance that you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any amount of discount will reduce your overall bill.

If you would like to view insurance companies that have a full spectrum of discounts, click here.

Situations that may require an agent’s advice

When choosing the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

  • Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
  • What are the financial responsibility laws in my state?
  • Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
  • Do I pay less for low miles?
  • What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • Why is insurance for a teen driver so high?
  • What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Car insurance coverage options for a Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Knowing the specifics of your policy can help you determine which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Auto liability

Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to people or other property in an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability can pay for things like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, repair costs for stationary objects, structural damage and funeral expenses. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but buy higher limits if possible.

Comprehensive car insurance

Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like hitting a deer, a broken windshield and damage from getting keyed. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers

Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Frequently these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Auto collision coverage

Collision coverage pays for damage to your C-Class caused by collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for things like colliding with a tree, hitting a parking meter, sustaining damage from a pot hole, colliding with another moving vehicle and hitting a mailbox. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

Coverage for medical expenses

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills for prosthetic devices, nursing services and ambulance fees. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Shop smart and save

People switch companies for any number of reasons including questionable increases in premium, lack of trust in their agent, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or unfair underwriting practices. No matter why you want to switch, finding a great new company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to shop for 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote auto insurance, the better your chances of lowering your car insurance rates. You may even discover the biggest savings come from an unexpected company.

Lower-priced auto insurance is attainable on the web and also from your neighborhood agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional carriers prefer to sell through local independent agents.

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