2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Insurance Rates

Trying to find the cheapest car insurance rates? Buyers have options when searching for affordable Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 insurance. You can either spend your time struggling with agents to get rate comparisons or leverage the internet to compare rates. There are more efficient ways to shop for car insurance so we’re going to tell you the best way to price shop coverage on a Dodge and get the lowest possible price from both online companies and local agents.

Your Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 insurance rate is a complex equation

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining your auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.

  • Low deductibles can be expensive – The deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive on Ram pickup insurance.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money – Most companies give discounts to people who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you’re getting this discount you still need to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
  • Protect yourself with liability coverage – Liability insurance provides coverage if ever a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
  • How your age affects price – Youthful drivers tend to be careless and easily distracted when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Adding a teen driver to your policy can really hurt. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
  • Proper usage rating affects rates – Driving more miles each year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies price each vehicle’s coverage based on their usage. Cars not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage. Incorrect usage on your Ram Pickup 3500 can cost quite a bit.
  • Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are quite a few add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying auto insurance. Things like vanishing deductibles, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea initially, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • Never let your coverage lapse – Driving your car without having proper coverage is a misdemeanor and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage lapse. And not only will your rates increase, failure to provide proof of insurance will get you a steep fine or even jail time.
  • Where you live – Living in a rural area has it’s advantages when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident. Urban drivers have to deal with congested traffic and longer commutes to work. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.

Don’t miss these discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise all available discounts very well, so we researched both the well known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Seat Belt Usage – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Accident Waiver – A few companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a set time period.
  • Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts of more than 20%.
  • No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less when compared with frequent claim filers.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
  • Theft Prevention Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • New Vehicle Savings – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of insurance companies with the best auto insurance discounts, click here.

The fine print in auto insurance ads

Consumers constantly see and hear ads for car insurance savings from the likes of State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim about savings if you switch your coverage to them.

How does each company make the same claim? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the driver they prefer to insure. An example of a profitable customer might be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don’t meet these standards must pay more money which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That’s why companies can advertise the way they do. This illustrates why you need to compare as many rates as you can. It’s not possible to predict which company will have the lowest Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 insurance rates.

When might I need help?

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Every insured’s situation is different.

For instance, these questions might help in determining if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.

  • What is the minimum liability in my state?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • Should I bundle my homeowners policy with my auto?
  • Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
  • What is an SR-22 filing?
  • Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Insurance coverage considerations

Knowing the specifics of your policy can be of help when determining the best coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Liability insurance

This will cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property in an accident. It protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see liability limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability coverage protects against claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, bail bonds and court costs. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but buy as large an amount as possible.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

This gives you protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Dodge Ram Pickup 3500.

Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for things like colliding with another moving vehicle, sustaining damage from a pot hole, damaging your car on a curb and driving through your garage door. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Coverage for medical payments

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for bills for ambulance fees, X-ray expenses, funeral costs and nursing services. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Comprehensive coverages

This pays for 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 protects against things like damage from a tornado or hurricane, damage from flooding, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a deer and rock chips in glass. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Get your money’s worth

Discount 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 insurance is definitely available from both online companies and with local insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

Consumers leave their current company for many reasons like lack of trust in their agent, denial of a claim, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or delays in paying claims. Whatever your reason, switching insurance companies can be pretty painless.

When shopping online for insurance, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

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