Save on 2003 Subaru Forester Insurance Rates

Searching for cheaper car insurance rates for your Subaru Forester? Nobody I know enjoys paying for car insurance, in particular when the price is too high.

Many insurers compete to insure your vehicles, so it’s not easy to compare every insurer to find the absolute lowest rate

Consumers need to compare rates once or twice a year because rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Just because you had the lowest price on Forester coverage a couple years back the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to one of the easiest ways to reduce your cost while improving coverage.

If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to save some money using this information. Finding affordable coverage is not that difficult. But drivers benefit from understanding the methods companies use to price online insurance and use this information to your advantage.

Comprehensive Auto Insurance Comparison

To find the best auto insurance prices, there are several ways of comparing price quotes and find the best price. The best method to find competitive 2003 Subaru Forester insurance rates is to get quotes online. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

  1. The recommended way consumers can analyze rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison click to view form in new window. This method eliminates the need for multiple quote forms for each company you want a rate for. Just one form will return quotes instantly.
  2. Another way to find lower rates consists of going to each individual company website and complete a new quote form. For instance, we’ll assume you want comparison quotes from State Farm, Esurance and GEICO. You would have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in your area, click here.
  3. The least efficient way to get comparison rates is to waste gas driving to different agent offices. Buying insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you want the personal advice of a licensed agent. It is possible to compare online quotes but buy from a local insurance agent and we’ll talk about that later.

Whichever way you use, make darn sure you compare exactly the same coverages and limits for every quote you compare. If the quotes have higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages could mean much higher rates. Just remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes gives you a better chance of getting better pricing.

Don’t pay full price with these discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you may find discounts to reduce the price significantly. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be asked about prior to receiving the credit.

  • Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Military Rewards – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
  • Own a Home – Owning a house can help you save on insurance coverage because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
  • Early Signing – Some companies give discounts for buying a policy before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
  • Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
  • Drivers Ed for Students – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class in school.
  • Sign Online – A few companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.

It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you could get a free insurance coverage policy, it doesn’t quite work that way. But all discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

To see a list of insurers who offer insurance coverage discounts, click here to view.

Why your Subaru Forester insurance rates may be high

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to lower insurance prices.

Shown below are some of the items companies use to determine prices.

  • Don’t buy coverages you don’t need – There are a ton of extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t careful. Things like vanishing deductibles, accidental death and motor club memberships are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment initially, but if you don’t need them remove them from your policy.
  • Your occupation can affect rates – Did you know your insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations like real estate brokers, social workers and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates due to high stress levels and lengthy work days. On the other hand, jobs such as pilots, students and performers receive lower rates on Forester coverage.
  • Do men or women drive better? – Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn’t mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Women and men are in accidents in similar numbers, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Equipment add-ons that lower insurance rates – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Cautious drivers pay less – Whether or not you get tickets has a huge affect on how much you pay. Good drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Only having one ticket can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers with serious tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
  • Claim-free discounts can add up – If you file claims often, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance companies award better rates to people who do not file claims often. Auto insurance is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions can help discover whether your personal situation might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
  • Are my friends covered when driving my 2003 Subaru Forester?
  • Do I need motorclub coverage?
  • Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?
  • Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
  • How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Specific coverages for a Subaru Forester

Having a good grasp of car insurance helps when choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Car insurance terms can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are typical coverage types found on most car insurance policies.

Liability insurance – Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects you from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see policy limits of 50/100/50 which means a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability can pay for things such as medical services, bail bonds and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.

UM/UIM Coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your 2003 Subaru Forester.

Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Usually the UM/UIM limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from getting keyed, a broken windshield, damage from flooding and theft. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Medical costs insurance – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for funeral costs, ambulance fees and X-ray expenses. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Collision coverages – This will pay to fix damage to your Forester resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for things like colliding with another moving vehicle, driving through your garage door, damaging your car on a curb and hitting a parking meter. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

One last thing about your coverage

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, an insured dropped collision coverage only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford.

We covered quite a bit of information on how to shop for 2003 Subaru Forester insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the lowest rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate or State Farm.

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