Cheap 1998 Volkswagen Passat Insurance Rates

Want the cheapest car insurance rates? Drivers have many options when trying to find the best price on Volkswagen Passat insurance. They can either spend hours struggling with agents to compare prices or utilize the internet to make rate comparisons.

There is a right way and a wrong way to buy car insurance and you need to know the best way to price shop coverage for a new or used Volkswagen and obtain the lowest price.

Consumers need to do price comparisons periodically due to the fact that insurance prices go up and down regularly. If you had the lowest price for Passat coverage last year there may be better deals available now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the proper way to reduce your cost while improving coverage.

Which insurance coverage is cheapest?

Finding a better price on insurance coverage can be surprisingly simple. All that’s required is to invest a few minutes getting comparison quotes from different insurance companies. This can be accomplished using one of these methods.

  1. Experts agree that the best way to get the best comparison quotes is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This quick form prevents you from having to do separate quote forms for every company. Taking the time to complete one form will get you price quotes instantly. It’s the fastest way to compare.
  2. A slightly less efficient method to find more affordable insurance consists of visiting each individual company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For example, let’s assume you want comparison quotes from Liberty Mutual, State Farm and American Family. To get each rate you have to spend time going to each site individually and type in your information over and over, which is why first method is reommended. For a list of companies in your area, click here.
  3. The last way to comparison shop is physically going to and from local insurance agencies. Doing it all online eliminates this option unless you’re the type of person who wants the advice and guidance of an agent trained in personal lines coverage. However, consumers can comparison shop your insurance online and still use a local agent.

Whichever way you use, double check that you are using exactly the same quote information on every quote you get. If each company quotes different data it will be very difficult to get a fair rate comparison.

What affects Volkswagen Passat insurance rates?

A large part of saving on insurance coverage is knowing the factors that help determine your premiums. When consumers understand what determines base rates, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower insurance coverage prices.

Shown below are some of the items insurance coverage companies consider when setting your rates.

  • Save money by having good credit – An insured’s credit score can be an important factor in determining your rates. If your credit rating is lower than you’d like, you could pay less to insure your 1998 Volkswagen Passat if you clean up your credit. Insureds with very good credit scores tend to be better risks to insure than those with bad credit.
  • Driving citations inflate prices – Even one ticket may cause rates to rise by as much as twenty percent. Good drivers pay lower auto insurance prices as compared to those with violations. Drivers with careless tickets such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state in order to legally drive.
  • Extra coverages could be costing you – Insurance companies have many additional coverages you can purchase when buying insurance coverage. Add-on coverages like personal injury protection, towing, and Farm Bureau memberships are some examples. The coverages may be enticing when talking to your agent, but if they’re wasting money remove them from your policy.
  • Vocation reflects on premiums – Careers like fire fighters, social workers and dentists tend to pay higher average rates because of stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. On the flip side, occupations such as farmers, historians and retirees pay lower than average rates for Passat coverage.
  • Where do you drive? – The higher the miles on your Volkswagen in a year the higher the price you pay to insure it. A lot of companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how much you drive. Autos that are left in the garage receive better premium rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your vehicle rating is rated on the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money. An improperly rated Passat is just wasting money.
  • How old are your drivers? – More mature drivers are more responsible, cause fewer claims and accidents and are safer drivers.Teen drivers are proven to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel so insurance coverage rates are higher.
  • Single vs. married – Walking down the aisle helps lower the price on insurance coverage. It may mean you are less irresponsible and it’s statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • High comp and collision deductibles cost less – Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your Volkswagen. A few examples of covered claims are collision with another vehicle, vandalism, and damage from a fallen tree branch. Deductibles for physical damage define how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more you have to pay, the better rate you will receive for Passat coverage.

Auto Insurance Discounts

Not many people think insurance is cheap, but you might find some hidden discounts that you may not even know about. Certain credits will be shown when you purchase, but some must be requested specifically prior to receiving the credit.

  • Accident Waiver – but a few companies such as Allstate and GEICO will let one accident slide before they charge you more for coverage so long as you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
  • Government Employees – Active or former government employment can earn a discount up to 10% for Passat coverage with a few auto insurance companies.
  • Accident-Free Discounts – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims are rewarded with significantly better rates on insurance coverage quote as opposed to frequent claim filers.
  • Drive Safe and Save – Drivers without accidents could pay up to 40% less for Passat coverage than drivers with accident claims.
  • Theft Deterent Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10% off your insurance coverage quote.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your homeowners and auto insurance with the same insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% and get you low cost insurance coverage.
  • Onboard Data Collection – Policyholders that allow companies to look at vehicle usage by installing a telematics device like Allstate’s Drivewise might get better premium rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
  • Seat Belts Save – Forcing all vehicle occupants to use a seat belt may be able to save a few bucks off the PIP or medical payment premium.
  • Student Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class in school or through a local driver safety program.

Remember that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Despite the appearance that it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way. But all discounts should help reduce your policy cost.

Some of the insurance companies that may offer quotes with these discounts include:

Before buying, ask all the companies which discounts you may be entitled to. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not be offered in your area. If you would like to see a list of insurance companies that provide some of the discounts listed above, follow this link.

Tailor your car insurance coverage to you

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Every insured’s situation is different.

Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
  • Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?
  • Where can I get insurance after a DUI in my state?
  • Am I covered if I hit my neighbor’s mailbox?
  • Does coverage extend to Mexico or Canada?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

Insurance coverage considerations

Having a good grasp of insurance aids in choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like damage from flooding, falling objects, hitting a bird, theft and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Collision coverage

Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage protects against claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, sustaining damage from a pot hole and rolling your car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Auto liability insurance

Liability coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other people or property by causing an accident. It protects YOU from claims by other people. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have values of 25/50/25 which means a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Alternatively, you may have a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage pays for things like medical expenses, pain and suffering and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but buy as much as you can afford.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Volkswagen Passat.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits are set the same as your liablity limits.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses for things like surgery, nursing services, rehabilitation expenses and prosthetic devices. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Never pay more for less

More affordable insurance can be purchased on the web and also from your neighborhood agents, so you need to shop insurance coverage with both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not provide internet price quotes and these smaller companies only sell through independent agents.

People switch companies for many reasons like being labeled a high risk driver, policy non-renewal, not issuing a premium refund and extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right insurance provider is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

When searching for cheap insurance coverage quotes, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at the best cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

More information can be found below: