How Much Does 2004 Dodge Stratus Car Insurance Cost?

Do you think you bought high-priced auto insurance? Believe me when I say many drivers feel the same as you.

Insurance companies such as Allstate and Progressive promote their brand names with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to see through the cute green geckos and mayhem and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using this strategy. Finding affordable coverage is quite easy. But vehicle owners should learn the way insurance companies price insurance differently.

Double check you’re getting with these discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but you may find discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for before you will receive the discount. If you do not check that you are getting every discount you deserve, you are not getting the best rate possible.

• First Accident Forgiveness – but companies like Allstate and Geico will turn a blind eye to one accident without raising rates if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
• New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a vehicle that is new can get you a discount because new vehicles are generally safer.
• Bundle and Save – If you can bundle your homeowners and auto insurance with the same company you could save at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
• Sign Online – A few larger online companies will provide an incentive shop insurance coverage on their website.
• Defensive Driver – Taking part in a class that teaches defensive driving techniques could cut 5% off your bill and make you a better driver.
• Life Insurance Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a lower price if you buy a life policy as well.
• Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Forcing all vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

It’s important to note that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like you could get a free insurance policy, you aren’t that lucky.

Popular insurance companies and a selection of discounts are detailed below.

• State Farm offers discounts including multiple autos, driver’s education, good student, Drive Safe & Save, multiple policy, passive restraint, and safe vehicle.
• Geico offers discounts for anti-theft, emergency military deployment, membership and employees, driver training, seat belt use, and daytime running lights.
• Liberty Mutual has savings for safety features, newly retired, new vehicle discount, hybrid vehicle, and newly married.
• The Hartford has discounts for defensive driver, bundle, air bag, vehicle fuel type, and good student.
• MetLife may include discounts for good student, good driver, claim-free, accident-free, multi-policy, defensive driver
• Progressive may offer discounts for good student, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, online quote discount, online signing, and continuous coverage.

When getting free insurance coverage quotes, it’s a good idea to every company to apply every possible discount. Some credits might not apply in your area. If you would like to see a list of insurers who offer online insurance quotes, click here.

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Your situation helps dictate your coverage

When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can aid in determining whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

• What is the minimum liability in my state?
• Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
• What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
• When should I buy a commercial auto policy?
• Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
• How can I find cheaper teen driver insurance?
• Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
• What is an SR-22 filing?
• How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?

If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Car insurance buyers beware

Popular car insurance providers such as Allstate, Geico and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the companies have a common claim about saving some big amount if you switch your coverage to them. But how can every company cost less than your current company? It’s all in the numbers.

Car insurance companies look for specific characteristics for the type of driver that earns them the highest profit. A good example of this type of risk profile could be between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver that matches those criteria will get low rates and will save when switching.

Drivers who do not meet these stringent criteria may receive a more expensive rate which results in the customer buying from someone else. The trick is to say “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much when switching. That’s why companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. Because of these techniques, you really should compare rate quotes every year. Because without a comparison, you cannot know which car insurance company will provide you with the cheapest auto insurance rates.

Auto insurance 101

Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Car insurance terms can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the normal coverages offered by car insurance companies.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for expenses like nursing services, doctor visits, dental work and ambulance fees. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers both the driver and occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Auto collision coverage

Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Stratus caused by collision 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 claims such as backing into a parked car, hitting a parking meter, crashing into a building and colliding with a tree. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive auto coverage

This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as damage from getting keyed, rock chips in glass, damage from a tornado or hurricane and a broken windshield. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Liability

Liability coverage protects you from damage that occurs to people or other property. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 25/50/25 that means you have a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability insurance covers claims such as attorney fees, medical services and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying higher limits if possible.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Dodge Stratus.

Since a lot of 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 important protection for you and your family.

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Feed the piggy bank

We just covered some good ideas how you can get a better price on 2004 Dodge Stratus insurance. The key concept to understand is the more you quote insurance coverage, the better your chances of lowering your car insurance rates. You may even find the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. These smaller insurers can often provide lower car insurance rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.

Cost effective 2004 Dodge Stratus insurance can be bought from both online companies as well as from independent agents, so you need to shop insurance coverage with both to have the best selection. Some companies do not offer internet price quotes and usually these regional carriers only sell coverage through independent agents.

Other resources

• Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
• What does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Cover? (Allstate)
• Cellphones, Texting and Driving (iihs.org)
• Electronic Stability Control FAQ (iihs.org)

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