2004 Acura MDX Car Insurance Rates – 5 Ways to Save

Comparison shopping for auto insurance can be challenging for people who are new to shopping for insurance online. You have so many companies to choose from that it can quickly become a ton of work to find lower rates.

Finding affordable coverage is not rocket science. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these tips. But vehicle owners benefit from understanding the way companies price insurance differently.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always publicize every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the best known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

  • Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • Safe Driver Discount – Safe drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates on MDX insurance than drivers with accidents.
  • Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles on your Acura could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Multiple Cars – Insuring all your vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
  • Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies before your current expiration date. The savings is around 10%.

Keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way.

Insurance companies that may have these money-saving discounts include:

Before buying, ask all companies you are considering how you can save money. Savings may not apply in your area.

Advertising myths

Companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm continually stream ads in print and on television. All the ads make an identical promise that you can save after switching your policy. How does each company make the same claim? It’s all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver they prefer to insure. An example of a desirable insured could be over the age of 40, has no driving citations, and drives newer vehicles. Any new insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who don’t meet these standards must pay higher premiums which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. This illustrates why drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict which company will have the lowest Acura MDX insurance rates.

Everyone needs different coverages

When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

For instance, these questions could help you determine whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
  • How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
  • Should I carry comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • How much liability insurance is required?
  • What is medical payments coverage?
  • Is my Acura MDX covered if I use it for business?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
  • Am I missing any policy discounts?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form.

Auto insurance coverage considerations

Understanding the coverages of a auto insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Liability – Liability insurance protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. It protects you against claims from other people. It does not cover 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. Your policy might show limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as legal defense fees, loss of income and bail bonds. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but you should buy as much as you can afford.

Medical payments coverage and PIP – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for short-term medical expenses such as surgery, X-ray expenses and hospital visits. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive coverage – This covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as rock chips in glass, vandalism, hail damage and hitting a bird. 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.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.

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

Collision insurance covers claims like sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a building and backing into a parked car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Quote more, save more

As you shop your coverage around, don’t be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to find the BEST coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

People change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, delays in responding to claim requests, policy non-renewal or high prices. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right auto insurance provider can be easy and end up saving you some money.

We just covered a lot of ways to shop for 2004 Acura MDX insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the lowest premiums are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

Additional resources