2005 Dodge Stratus Insurance Cost – 9 Tips for Cheapest Prices

I can’t think of a single person who enjoys paying for insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much.

Many auto insurance companies compete for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurers to find the absolute best rates possible.

It’s a great practice to check insurance prices every six months because insurance rates change quite often. Even if you think you had the lowest price on Stratus insurance on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. There is a lot of wrong information about insurance on the web, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn some guaranteed methods to stop overpaying for insurance.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. Choosing the best insurance company for you is quite easy. Although car owners do need to learn how companies sell online and apply this information to your search.

Compare Quotes for Insurance

The are a couple different ways to compare rate quotes from different insurance companies. The best way to find the lowest 2005 Dodge Stratus rates is to get quotes online. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

  1. The easiest and least time consuming way to find low rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This type of form eliminates the need for separate quote forms for each company. One simple form will return quotes from multiple low-cost companies.
  2. A less efficient way to analyze rates is going to the website for every company you want to comare to request a price quote. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you want rates from Auto-Owners, Progressive and GMAC. To get each rate you have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.

    For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.

  3. The hardest method to compare rates is driving around to insurance agents’ offices. Buying insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you want the professional advice only provided by licensed agents. However, consumers can price shop online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll talk about that later.

It’s up to you which method you use, but compare apples-to-apples coverages and limits with each company. If you use differing limits it’s impossible to make a fair comparison for your Dodge Stratus. Quoting even small variations in coverages could mean much higher rates. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing a large number of companies helps locate the best offered rates.

Discounts to lower 2005 Dodge Stratus insurance rates

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always list every discount very clearly, so we took the time to find both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

  • Multi-policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
  • Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums on Stratus insurance.
  • Life Insurance – Some companies give a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • Drive Less and Save – Fewer annual miles on your Dodge can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Seat Belts Save – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could cut 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
  • No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts when compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy before your current policy expires. The savings is around 10%.
  • Multiple Cars – Buying coverage for all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

Insurance companies that may have these discounts are:

Double check with each company which discounts they offer. Some discounts might not apply in your state.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

  • Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
  • Do I need replacement cost coverage on my 2005 Dodge Stratus?
  • Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
  • What is the minimum liability in my state?
  • Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
  • Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?

If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Insurance coverage options for a 2005 Dodge Stratus

Having a good grasp of insurance helps when choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverage types found on most insurance policies.

Comprehensive protection

This pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive can pay for things like a broken windshield, damage from flooding, hitting a bird and vandalism. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Medical expense coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for bills for funeral costs, hospital visits and nursing services. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Collision coverage

Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Stratus from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage pays for things like hitting a mailbox, rolling your car and backing into a parked car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

Coverage for liability

Liability coverage provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property that is your fault. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability can pay for things such as emergency aid, bail bonds, medical services and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and damage to your Dodge Stratus.

Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.

Feed the piggy bank

In this article, we covered many tips how you can lower your 2005 Dodge Stratus insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the best prices are with a smaller regional carrier. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate or State Farm.

While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

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