You have many choices when attempting to insure your vehicle. You can get prices from an insurance agent or shop online to compare pricing from companies. Finding cheaper car insurance by quoting online is easy, in addition you may find lower rates.

Consumers who are new to the process of comparing rates may think buying affordable 1997 insurance is hard. The are a couple different ways to compare quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The fastest way to find the lowest is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done by visiting this page.

Criteria which help determine car insurance premiums

Insurance premiums paid to insure a 1997 will vary greatly based upon several criteria. A few of these criteria are:

  • The performance level of your 1997
  • Your accident history
  • Home/auto policy bundles save money
  • How you use your vehicle
  • Optional coverages like vehicle replacement
  • Your job
  • The amount of protection requested
  • Owning a home can lower rates

One important consideration which can affect your rates is the age of the vehicle. Models that are a few years old have a much lower replacement value compared to new models so the costs to repair will push premiums down. But newer models have more advanced features including adaptive headlights, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and a telematics system so those may provide discounts that lower premiums.

Liability coverages

Liability insurance protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. Liability insurance covers claims such as funeral expenses, loss of income, and emergency aid. Liability insurance is relatively cheap so buy as much as you can afford.

Auto collision coverage

This pays for damage to your from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive coverages

This will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay. The maximum amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This coverage gives you protection when the "other guys" do not carry enough liability coverage. Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.

Coverage for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills like ambulance fees, surgery, and doctor visits. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. PIP is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage.