Lower Your 2012 Dodge Caliber Insurance Rates

Searching for cheaper insurance coverage rates for your Dodge Caliber? Car insurance shoppers not familiar with price shopping car insurance online could find buying cheaper auto insurance is quite challenging.

It’s smart to do price comparisons once or twice a year because insurance coverage prices change quite often. If you had the best price for Caliber coverage two years ago you can probably find a better rate now. Block out anything you think you know about insurance coverage because you’re about to find out the things you must know in order to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

Finding insurance

Shopping for lower insurance rates can be a lot of work if you don’t utilize the most efficient way to do it. You could waste a few hours talking about coverages with agents in your area, or you can utilize the web to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

Many insurance companies take part in a program where prospective buyers complete one form, and each company then returns a price quote based on that data. This system prevents you from having to do quote requests to every company. To find out what other companies charge click here (opens in new window).

The single downside to using this type of system is buyers cannot specifically choose the insurers to receive prices from. So if you prefer to choose from a list of companies to compare rates, we have assembled a list of companies who write insurance in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.

It’s up to you which method you use, but be sure you’re using equivalent coverage information on every quote. If the quotes have differing limits it will be next to impossible to truly determine the lowest rate. Just slight variations in insurance coverages may result in large price differences. And when comparing insurance rates, know that comparing a wide range of rates increases your odds of finding a lower rate.

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Do you qualify for discounts?

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there may be some discounts that you may not even be aware of. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of purchase, but occassionally some discounts must be inquired about prior to getting the savings.

• Discount for Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
• Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• Government Employee Discount – Having worked for a branch of the government could qualify for a slight premium decrease for Caliber coverage depending on your company.
• Renewal Discounts – A few auto insurance companies allow discounts for renewing your policy before your current policy expires. Ten percent is about the average savings.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are much safer to drive so companies give up to a 10% discount.
• Theft Deterent Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and that can save you a little bit as well.
• Good Student – Being a good student could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. You can use this discount normally well after school through age 25.
• Policy Bundle Discount – If you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
• Accident Forgiveness Coverage – This one isn’t a discount, but companies like Allstate and Progressive permit an accident before your rates go up so long as you are claim-free for a set time period.

You can save money using discounts, but most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way.

Large auto insurance companies and a selection of discounts are outlined below.

• Progressive discounts include multi-vehicle, online quote discount, continuous coverage, homeowner, and multi-policy.
• Geico has savings for military active duty, anti-theft, federal employee, five-year accident-free, and defensive driver.
• State Farm offers discounts for multiple policy, anti-theft, good driver, good student, student away at school, and defensive driving training.
• Esurance policyholders can earn discounts including anti-lock brakes, claim free, safety device, multi-policy, Pac-12 alumni, DriveSense, and anti-theft.
• The Hartford includes discounts for anti-theft, bundle, defensive driver, good student, and driver training.

When quoting, ask each company or agent the best way to save money. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply to policies in every state. To view companies with discount auto insurance rates, click this link.

Informed consumers can cut their insurance rates

Many things are part of the calculation when you get a price on insurance. Some are obvious like your driving record, but others are more obscure like where you live or how financially stable you are.

• Remove unneeded add-on coverages – Policies have optional add-on coverages that sound like a good idea at the time if you don’t pay attention. Insurance for things like roadside assistance, death and dismemberment, and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. The coverages may be enticing when discussing your needs, but now you might not need them so consider taking them off your policy.
• Liability coverage – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance will protect you if a court rules you are at fault for physical damage or personal injury to other. It provides legal defense coverage which can cost a lot. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to other policy coverages, so drivers should carry high limits.
• Does insurance coverage cost less for women? – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown that females tend to be a little less risky than males. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Females and males cause fender benders at about the same rate, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Not only that, but men also get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI.
• Lower rates for married couples – Getting married helps lower the price on your insurance policy. Having a spouse is viewed as being more responsible and insurance companies reward insureds because being married results in fewer claims.
• Insure your auto and home with one company – Most larger insurance companies provide discounts to people that buy multiple policies, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to ten or even fifteen percent. Even if you already get this discount, it’s always a smart idea to compare other insurance prices to help guarantee you have the best rates.
• Filing policy claims can increase rates – Car insurance companies award better rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of more catestrophic claims.
• Vehicles with better crash test results lower premiums – Cars with five star safety ratings tend to have lower insurance rates. The safest vehicles help reduce the chance of injuries in an accident and lower injury rates translates directly to fewer claims and cheaper rates on your policy.
• Good drivers pay less – A bad driving record has a big impact on rates. Drivers with clean records pay lower auto insurance prices than bad drivers. Only having one moving violation can bump up the cost by as much as twenty percent. Drivers with careless citations like DUI or willful reckless driving are required to file a SR-22 with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same insurance coverage coverage

When buying the best insurance coverage coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Every insured’s situation is different.

For example, these questions can aid in determining whether you could use an agent’s help.

• What is an SR-22 filing?
• How can I force my company to pay a claim?
• Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
• Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
• Is upholstery damage covered by car insurance?
• Am I covered if I break a side mirror?
• When can my company non-renew my policy?
• Should I buy more coverage than the required minimum liability coverage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.

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Car insurance ads bend the truth

Respected companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the companies tend to make the same promise of big savings if you get a free auto insurance quote and switch your coverage to them. How can each company charge less that you’re paying now? Just pay attention to how they say it.

All companies have specific characteristics for the type of customer that earns them a profit. A good example of this type of risk profile may need to be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and does not commute to work. A propective insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save money with a new company.

Consumers who may not quite match those standards will be quoted a more expensive rate with the end result being the customer not buying. The ads say “people that switch” not “all people who quote” save the amount stated. That’s why insurance companies can make it sound like they have such great premium rates. Because every company is different, it’s extremely important to get a wide range of price quotes. It’s just not possible to know the company that will provide you with the cheapest auto insurance rates.

Learn about car insurance coverages for a Dodge Caliber

Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Coverage for medical payments – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for short-term medical expenses for things like chiropractic care, X-ray expenses, ambulance fees, rehabilitation expenses and funeral costs. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive coverages – This will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as fire damage, vandalism, hitting a deer and theft. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Collision coverages – This will pay to fix damage to your Caliber resulting from a collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers claims like crashing into a ditch, rolling your car, colliding with a tree, driving through your garage door and hitting a mailbox. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Auto liability insurance – This provides protection from damage that occurs to people or other property in an accident. It protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 25/50/25 which means a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000.

Liability insurance covers claims such as court costs, attorney fees, loss of income and structural damage. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but consider buying as much as you can afford.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Dodge Caliber.

Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal

We just covered quite a bit of information on how to shop for 2012 Dodge Caliber insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote auto insurance, the better your chances of lowering your car insurance rates. Consumers may even find the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies.

As you quote auto insurance, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The goal is to buy enough coverage at the lowest possible cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like policy cancellation, high rates after DUI convictions, denial of a claim and being labeled a high risk driver. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a great new company is easier than you think.

More tips and info about insurance coverage can be read in the articles below:

• Vehicle Insurance in the U.S. (Wikipedia)
• Safety Belts FAQ (iihs.org)
• Teen Driving and Texting (State Farm)
• Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Rental Car Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Insitute)

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