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.
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.
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.
To view a list of companies in your area, click here.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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 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.
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 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.
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.
Additional detailed information can be read in the articles below: