Lower Your 2004 Pontiac Sunfire Insurance Rates

When searching for lower-priced insurance, are you intimidated by the dozens of car insurance sources in your area? Many other people are too. drivers have so many sources to choose from that it can easily turn into a real hassle to find the lowest price.

Finding the best rates is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you have car insurance now, you should be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Although vehicle owners do need to know how the larger insurance companies compete online and take advantage of how the system works.

Low cost auto insurance rate quotes online

There are several ways you can shop for auto insurance but one way is more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon talking to insurance agencies in your area, or you could use online quoting to accomplish the same thing much quicker.

Most of the best insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to only type in their quote data once, and at least one company then gives them pricing. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms for every auto insurance company.

To participate in this free quote system, click here to open in new window.

The only drawback to using this type of system is you are unable to specify the companies to get pricing from. So if you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to receive pricing from, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.

Whichever way you use, compare the same coverage information on every quote you get. If the quotes have different liability limits it will be nearly impossible to determine the lowest rate for your Pontiac Sunfire. Just slight variations in insurance coverages could skew the results. It’s important to know that more quotes will improve the odds of getting more affordable rates.

Misconceptions in insurance coverage advertisements

Insurance coverage companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm seem to constantly run ads on TV and radio. All the ads try to convey promises about how much you will save if you just switch your coverage to them. That’s great but how can every company give you a better price? Here is the trick they use.

Insurance coverage companies give the cheapest rates for the type of insured that will most likely be profitable. A good example of this type of insured should be between 30 and 50, has other policies, and drives a car with an anti-theft system. Someone who matches those parameters will probably get the lowest premium rates and will save a lot of money.

Insureds who don’t qualify for these stringent criteria will probably have to pay higher premiums which leads to the prospect going elsewhere. If you pay close attention to the ads, they say “people that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save the amount stated. This is how insurance companies can confidently make claims like that. Because of this risk profiling, you really need to do a rate comparison at every renewal. It’s impossible to know which insurance coverage company will have the best premium rates for your profile.

Choices you make can impact your insurance costs

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. If you have some idea of what determines premiums, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to cheaper rates.

Listed below are most of the major factors used by companies to determine rates.

  • Avoid traffic tickets – How you drive impacts premiums far more than you think. Just one driving citation could increase your next policy renewal twenty percent or more. Careful drivers pay less for auto insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as DUI or reckless driving may find that they have to to prove financial responsibility with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to legally drive.
  • Only buy what you need – Insurance companies have many additional extra coverages that sound like a good idea at the time if you aren’t careful. Coverage for things like rental car reimbursement, towing coverage, and Farm Bureau memberships may be costing you every month. They may sound like good ideas when discussing your needs, but if you don’t need them consider taking them off your policy.
  • Put fewer miles on your vehicle – The more you drive your Pontiac every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies calculate rates based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your policy properly reflects the proper vehicle usage. A policy that improperly rates your Sunfire can result in significantly higher rates.
  • How much liability – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance provides coverage in the event that you are found liable for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Teen driver insurance rates – Teen drivers have been known to be inattentive when driving with friends so auto insurance rates are higher. Older people are proven to be safer behind the wheel, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
  • Vehicle features that lower auto insurance rates – Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can save you some money. Systems that thwart theives such as OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms can help prevent car theft.
  • Cheaper prices for prior coverage – Not having insurance can get your license suspended and companies may charge more for letting your coverage have a gap. Not only will rates go up, not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time. You may need to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
  • Cheaper rates by bundling – Most larger insurers provide a discount to people who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. This can amount to 10 percent or more. Even with this discount applied, it’s still a good idea to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to save money by buying auto insurance from a different company.

Lower your insurance coverage rates with discounts

Companies don’t always list their entire list of discounts very well, so the following is a list of some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts that you can inquire about if you buy insurance online.

  • Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
  • Multi-car Discount – Buying a policy with primary and secondary vehicles with the same company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
  • No Claims – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay much less as compared to frequent claim filers.
  • Low Miles Discount – Low annual miles may enable drivers to earn better insurance coveragerates on cars that stay parked.
  • College Student – Kids who live away from home at college and don’t have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • ABS Brakes – Cars and trucks that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are much safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
  • Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Forcing all vehicle occupants to wear their seat belts could save 15% off PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Senior Discount – Older drivers could receive a discount up to 10% for Sunfire coverage.
  • Discount for Life Insurance – Some insurance carriers give a discounted premium rate on car insurance if you buy life insurance.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though you would think you could get a free insurance coverage policy, you won’t be that lucky.

If you would like to choose from a list of insurers with the best discounts, click this link.

You are unique and your car insurance should be too

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different.

For example, these questions might point out if you could use an agent’s help.

  • Am I insured when driving a different vehicle?
  • Where can I get insurance after a DUI in my state?
  • Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
  • What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
  • Do I need higher collision deductibles?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
  • Is a fancy paint job covered?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form.

What insurance coverages do you need?

Learning about specific coverages of insurance can help you determine the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Medical costs insurance

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses for doctor visits, rehabilitation expenses, ambulance fees and surgery. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Coverage for liability

Liability insurance can cover damage that occurs to people or other property in an accident. It protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see values of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage protects against claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, emergency aid and bail bonds. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as vandalism, damage from a tornado or hurricane and hitting a deer. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Collision insurance

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

Collision coverage pays for things like scraping a guard rail, backing into a parked car, crashing into a ditch, damaging your car on a curb and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.

UM/UIM Coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your 2004 Pontiac Sunfire.

Due to the fact that many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.

In the end, you save

Insureds switch companies for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, lack of trust in their agent, being labeled a high risk driver and even high prices. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company can be easier than you think.

As you quote insurance, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how to save on 2004 Pontiac Sunfire insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable insurance. You may even discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small local company.

For more information, feel free to browse these articles: