Cheaper 2000 Dodge Stratus Insurance Cost

Searching for better auto insurance rates for your Dodge Stratus? Paying for overpriced Dodge Stratus insurance can draw down your savings account, especially in this economy.

Since drivers have many choices, it’s nearly impossible to choose a lower cost insurer.

You should make it a habit to take a look at other company’s rates occasionally since insurance prices are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Just because you had the lowest rates for Stratus coverage six months ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate quote today. There are lots of tips to save on auto insurance on the web, but in a few minutes you can learn the best ways to find affordable auto insurance.

Finding the best rates is not rocket science. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. But consumers need to learn the methods companies use to market insurance on the web.

Find cheap car insurance with these tips

A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing a few of the rating criteria that aid in calculating your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make educated decisions that can earn you lower car insurance prices.

Shown below are some of the most rate-impacting factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set your rates.

  • Save money by having multiple policies – Lots of insurers will award lower prices to clients who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount you may still want to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Drive fewer miles and save – The more you drive annually the higher the price you pay to insure it. A lot of insurance companies charge to insure your cars based upon how much you drive. Autos that sit idle most of the time receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. It’s a good idea to make sure your declarations sheet properly reflects how each vehicle is driven. Improper usage on your Stratus can cost quite a bit.
  • Maintain car insurance coverage – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a fast way to trigger a rate increase. In addition to paying higher rates, not being able to provide proof of insurance could result in fines and jail time. You may then have to file a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department.
  • Are females or males drivers cheaper? – Over the last 30 years, statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. This data doesn’t prove that women are BETTER drivers than men. Both genders tend to get into fender benders in similar percentages, but the male of the species get into accidents with more damage. In addition to higher claims, males also have more aggressive citations like driving under the influence (DUI). Young men ages 16 to 20 are most likely to cause an accident and therefore have the most expensive car insurance rates.

Compare auto insurance rates

The are a couple different ways of comparing rate quotes from many available auto insurance companies in your state. By far the easiest way to do a complete rate comparison involves getting comparison quotes online. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

  1. If you don’t have a lot of time, the easiest way to find the lowest comparison rates is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This style of form eliminates the need for a different quote for every prospective company. A single form will get you price quotes from auto insurance companies with the best prices.
  2. A slightly less efficient method to obtain and compare quotes online requires a visit to each company’s website and complete a new quote form. For example, let’s say you need rates from Farmers, State Farm and GMAC. To get each rate you have to spend time going to each site individually and enter your information, which can get old fast.

    To view a list of companies in your area, click here.

  3. The least recommended way to get price estimates is going to different agent offices. Doing it all online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you have a complicated situation and need the advice and guidance of a licensed agent. You can, however, compare the best prices online but still have the advice of a local agent.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you’re using exactly the same information on every quote you get. If you enter unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be very difficult to get a fair rate comparison. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages could throw off the whole comparison. Keep in mind that getting more free quotes helps increase your odds of locating lower pricing.

Misconceptions in car insurance advertisements

Big name companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads in print and on television. All the companies advertise claims about how much you will save just by switching your policy. How is it plausible that every one can give you a better price? It’s all in the wording.

Most companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that will most likely be profitable. An example of a driver they prefer might be described as over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and the vehicle is rated for pleasure use. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” will probably get cheap prices and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who are not a match for the requirements will probably have to pay higher rates and the customer buying from someone else. Company advertisements say “people who switch” not “all people who quote” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. Because of this risk profiling, you should get price quotes at each policy renewal. Because you cannot predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Auto Insurance Discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you can get discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Certain credits will be shown at quote time, but some need to be asked for before you get the savings.

  • Distant Student Discount – Youth drivers who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle could get you a discount.
  • Mature Driver Discount – Older drivers may qualify for a small decrease in premiums for Stratus coverage.
  • Own a Home and Save – Owning a house can get you a discount due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.
  • Drive Less and Save – Low annual miles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Driver Education Discount – Teen drivers should enroll in driver’s education in high school.
  • E-sign Discounts – Certain auto insurance companies provide a small discount for completing your application on their website.
  • Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% since new model year vehicles have better safety ratings.
  • Drive Safe and Save – Insureds who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% for Stratus coverage than drivers with accidents.
  • Good Student – A discount for being a good student may save as much as 25% on a insurance quote. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up until you turn 25.

You can save money using discounts, but most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Even though it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

A list of companies and some of their more popular discounts are:

  • 21st Century has savings for 55 and older, good student, student driver, early bird, teen driver, and theft prevention.
  • State Farm offers premium reductions for Steer Clear safe driver discount, accident-free, student away at school, good student, multiple policy, passive restraint, and good driver.
  • AAA offers discounts for multi-car, anti-theft, good driver, AAA membership discount, good student, and pay-in-full.
  • Liberty Mutual may include discounts for good student, multi-car, new graduate, teen driver discount, and exclusive group savings.
  • Progressive may offer discounts for homeowner, online signing, multi-vehicle, good student, multi-policy, and continuous coverage.

Before purchasing a policy, check with all the companies how you can save money. Savings may not apply to policies in every state. If you would like to choose from a list of insurers that offer some of these discounts, follow this link.

Tailor your auto insurance coverage to you

When it comes to buying coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions might point out whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

  • Is my camper covered by my car insurance policy?
  • Where can I find high-risk insurance?
  • Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
  • What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
  • How do I insure my teen driver?
  • Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • Is a fancy paint job covered?
  • Is my trailer covered?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?

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, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Insurance policy coverages for a Dodge Stratus

Knowing the specifics of insurance can be of help when determining the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are the normal coverages offered by insurance companies.

Medical expense coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for expenses such as doctor visits, surgery, rehabilitation expenses, funeral costs and nursing services. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible

Auto liability insurance

This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. It protects YOU against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 25/50/25 that means you have a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability can pay for claims such as bail bonds, repair costs for stationary objects, funeral expenses and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as much as you can afford.

Comprehensive protection

Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as a broken windshield, damage from getting keyed, rock chips in glass, hail damage and hitting a deer. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

This provides protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Collision coverage

Collision coverage covers damage to your Stratus caused by collision with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for things like damaging your car on a curb, sideswiping another vehicle, rolling your car, crashing into a building and driving through your garage door. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Take this to the bank

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, someone sacrificed collision coverage only to regret that it was a big error on their part. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price, but do not skimp to save money.

We covered a lot of tips how to lower your 2000 Dodge Stratus insurance car insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more you quote insurance, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the best price on insurance coverage is with a lesser-known regional company. They may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate and Progressive.

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