Save on 2008 Volkswagen Passat Insurance Cost

Nobody that owns a car anticipates paying for car insurance, especially when they could find better rates elsewhere.

Big-name insurance companies like State Farm, GEICO and Farmers Insurance constantly blast consumers with fancy advertisements and consumers find it hard to ignore the propoganda and take the time to shop coverage around.

It’s a good habit to get comparison quotes periodically since insurance prices go up and down regularly. Just because you found the lowest price for Passat insurance at your last renewal you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the things you must know in order to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

Cheap auto insurance

Most companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm make it easy to get prices for coverage on the web. Getting prices online is fairly simple as you simply type in the coverage amounts you desire as requested by the quote form. After you complete the form, the quote system sends out for credit information and your driving record and gives you a price quote based on many factors. This helps simplify price comparisons, but having to visit a lot of sites and enter the same data into a form gets old quite quickly. But it is imperative to have as many quotes as possible if you want to find the best price possible.

The smarter way to find cheaper rates is to use a quote form that gets prices from several different companies. It saves time, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes online shopping much more enjoyable and efficient. Immediately after you send the form, your coverage is rated and you can select any or none of the returned quotes.

If a lower price is quoted, it’s easy to complete the application and purchase coverage. The entire process can be completed in a matter of minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

To quickly find out what other companies charge, click here to open in a new tab and submit your coverage information. To compare your current rates, we recommend you complete the form with the insurance coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This guarantees you will receive comparison quotes based on identical coverages.

Don’t overlook these insurance discounts

Companies don’t list the entire discount list very clearly, so the below list has both well-publicized and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using when you buy insurance online.

  • Student Discount for Driver Training – Have your child enroll and complete driver’s education in high school.
  • Own a Home and Save – Owning your own home or condo can get you a discount because maintaining a house is proof of financial responsibility.
  • Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles on your Volkswagen may allow you to get cheaper prices.
  • Discount for Life Insurance – Not all companies offer life insurance, but some may give you a small discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
  • ABS Braking Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are much safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once as opposed to paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
  • Accident-Free Discounts – Drivers with accident-free driving histories are rewarded with significantly better rates on insurance quote in comparison to drivers with a long claim history.
  • Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for a slight reduction on a insurance quote for Passat insurance.
  • Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Forcing all vehicle occupants to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.

Companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts include:

  • Progressive may offer discounts for multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, good student, and online quote discount.
  • MetLife policyholders can earn discounts including multi-policy, good student, claim-free, accident-free, good driver, and defensive driver.
  • Mercury Insurance has discounts for low natural disaster claims, good student, accident-free, professional/association, age of vehicle, and multi-policy.
  • Nationwide may have discounts that include accident-free, easy pay, business or organization, anti-theft, good student, family plan, and defensive driving.
  • GEICO offers discounts for federal employee, air bags, driver training, seat belt use, and anti-lock brakes.
  • AAA discounts include pay-in-full, multi-car, AAA membership discount, education and occupation, and multi-policy.

If you need the cheapest insurance quotes, ask every insurance company which discounts you qualify for. Some credits may not be offered in your area. If you would like to choose from a list of insurance companies that offer multiple discounts, click this link.

Why you might pay increased rates

Lots of things are part of the equation when pricing auto insurance. Some are pretty understandable like an MVR report, but other factors are more transparent like your vehicle usage or how safe your car is.The best way to find cheaper insurance coverage is to take a look at some of the things that go into determining your premiums. If you understand what controls the rates you pay, this enables you to make decisions that may reward you with big savings.

  • Drive a safer car and pay less – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and fewer injuries means your insurance company pays less passed on to you as lower rates.
  • More people means more accidents – Having an address in less populated areas is a positive aspect when buying insurance coverage. Drivers who live in large cities have more traffic problems and higher rates of accident claims. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
  • Liability coverage is critical – Liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if you are determined to be liable for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. It is affordable coverage compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Keep claims to a minimum – Car insurance companies award discounts to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
  • Little extras can really add up – There are a ton of optional add-on coverages you can purchase if you aren’t diligent. Coverages like rental car reimbursement, towing coverage, and Farm Bureau memberships may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when discussing your needs, but if you don’t need them remove them from your policy.
  • Marriage reduces risk – Walking down the aisle can actually save you money when shopping for insurance coverage. Having a significant other translates into being more mature and responsible and insurance companies like that married couples file fewer claims.
  • Mileage impacts costs – The more you drive every year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how much you drive. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your insurance coverage policy is rated on the right rating data, because it can save money. Improper usage on your Passat may be wasting your money.
  • Credit score impacts premium rates – An insured’s credit history is likely to be a major factor in determining your rates. So if your credit history is low, you could potentially save money when insuring your 2008 Volkswagen Passat by improving your credit score. Insureds with excellent credit scores tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with lower credit scores.

When to get professional advice

When buying adequate coverage, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions may help you determine if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
  • Are my friends covered when driving my car?
  • Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my 2008 Volkswagen Passat is totaled?
  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
  • Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
  • What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
  • Do I need more liability coverage?
  • Do I need an umbrella policy?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Auto insurance coverages

Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy aids in choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find typical coverage types offered by car insurance companies.

Liability car insurance – Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property that is your fault. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is a combined limit that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage pays for things such as pain and suffering, attorney fees, medical services, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but buy higher limits if possible.

Collision coverage – This covers damage to your Passat from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as damaging your car on a curb, sideswiping another vehicle and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Medical expense coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage pay for expenses for hospital visits, prosthetic devices, dental work, chiropractic care and pain medications. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

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

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like vandalism, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hail damage and hitting a deer. The maximum amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Volkswagen Passat.

Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Frequently these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

More effort can pay off

We just showed you quite a bit of information on how to shop for 2008 Volkswagen Passat insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get prices for, the better your chances of lowering your prices. You may even discover the biggest savings come from the least-expected company. They may have significantly lower prices on certain market segments than their larger competitors like State Farm and Allstate.

While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where an insured dropped liability coverage limits and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate but still have enough coverage for asset protection.

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