Save on 1997 Dodge Stratus Car Insurance Rates

Want better car insurance rates for your Dodge Stratus? Trying to find better insurance prices for a new or used Dodge Stratus could be a painful process, but you can follow a few tricks and make it easy. There is a right way and a wrong way to buy car insurance and you need to know the best way to get price quotes for a new or used Dodge and locate the lowest possible price.

It is always a good idea to get comparison quotes yearly because rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest price for Stratus insurance on your last policy you can probably find a lower rate today. Don’t believe everything you read about car insurance on the web, but with this article, you’re going to get some proven techniques to save money.

Choosing the best insurance company for you is quite easy. If you have a current insurance coverage policy or are just looking to switch companies, you can learn to shop for the lowest rates while maximizing coverage. Drivers just need to learn the proper methods to shop their coverage around online.

Why you might be paying too much to insure your Dodge Stratus

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for insurance coverage. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Your location is important – Living in a small town is a positive aspect when it comes to insurance coverage. Urban drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate.
  • Don’t let your coverage lapse – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a sure-fire way to pay more for insurance coverage. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage will get you a steep fine or even jail time.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money – The majority of companies will give a discount to policyholders who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, you still need to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money. Consumers may find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
  • Pleasure use saves money – The more miles you rack up on your Dodge each year the more you will pay for insurance coverage. The majority of insurers price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. If your policy improperly rates your Stratus may be costing you. Double check that your insurance coverage policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven.
  • Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance – Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection means less money paid by your insurance company passed on to you as lower rates. If your Dodge is rated at least four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org it is probably cheaper to insure.

Pay less by taking advantage of discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched both the well known as well as the least known ways to save on insurance coverage. If you aren’t receiving every discount available, you are throwing money away.

  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
  • Drivers Ed for Students – Have your child enroll in driver’s education in high school.
  • Auto/Life Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles on your Dodge can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Homeowners Savings – Owning a home can save you money because owning a home requires personal responsibility.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.

It’s important to note that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you could get a free insurance coverage policy, companies don’t profit that way.

Companies that possibly offer some of the above discounts are:

It’s a good idea to ask every prospective company how you can save money. Some discounts might not apply everywhere.

Buyer beware of insurance coverage advertising tricks

Consumers constantly see and hear ads for cheaper car insurance by companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you change to them.

But how can every company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has great credit. A customer who fits that profile receives the best rates and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who don’t qualify for the requirements will be charged higher premiums which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. That is why you should compare as many rates as you can. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest Dodge Stratus insurance rates.

Your coverage should be tailored to you

When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Every insured’s situation is different.

These are some specific questions can help discover if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.

  • What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
  • Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • When can I cancel my policy?
  • Is pleasure use cheaper than using my 1997 Dodge Stratus to commute?
  • Do I need rental car coverage?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Specifics of your auto insurance policy

Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Auto insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills such as X-ray expenses, rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits and dental work. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers you and your occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible

Liability coverages

This coverage protects you from damage that occurs to a person or their property in an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 that translate to a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability coverage pays for things like emergency aid, medical expenses and legal defense fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but consider buying higher limits if possible.

Comprehensive coverage

This pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, vandalism, theft and hail damage. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Collision coverage

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

Collision can pay for claims like rolling your car, colliding with a tree, sustaining damage from a pot hole, crashing into a ditch and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Dodge Stratus.

Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Summing up your insurance search

Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how to shop for 1997 Dodge Stratus insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with the least-expected company.

The cheapest insurance is possible both online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced collision coverage only to regret they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

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