1991 Volkswagen Passat Insurance Rates – 7 Savings Tips

Shopping for lower priced auto insurance on the web can appear to be somewhat difficult for drivers not familiar with shopping for insurance on the internet. When there are so many online companies, how can you have a chance to compare all the different companies and get the cheapest price possible?

It’s a good idea to do rate comparisons before your next renewal because insurance prices are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Even if you think you had the lowest price for Passat coverage a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate quote today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the fastest way to lower your annual insurance bill.

Car insurance policy discounts you can’t miss

Buying car insurance is not cheap, but there are discounts available that many consumers don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but some need to be asked about before they will apply.

• Early Switch Discount – Select car insurance companies give a discount for buying a policy prior to the expiration date on your current policy. You can save around 10% with this discount.
• Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed in the military can result in better prices.
• Theft Deterent System – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices are stolen with less frequency and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Multiple Cars – Purchasing coverage when you have multiple cars or trucks on the same car insurance policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Clubs and Organizations – Having an affiliation with qualifying clubs or civic groups could trigger savings on your next renewal.
• Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a course in defensive driver could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
• Data Collection Discounts – Insureds that choose to allow driving data collection to scrutinize driving habits by installing a telematics device like Drivewise from Allstate or In-Drive from State Farm could save a few bucks if their driving habits are good.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Despite the fact that it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, that’s just not realistic. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the amount you pay for coverage.

A partial list of companies that may offer policyholders some of the above discounts include:

• Geico
• USAA
• Progressive
• American Family
• Esurance
• Farmers Insurance
• State Farm

When getting a coverage quote, ask all companies you are considering how you can save money. Discounts may not apply to policies in every state.

Insurance agents can help

When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique.

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

• What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
• Is upholstery damage covered by car insurance?
• What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in my state?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
• How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
• Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.

Coverages available on your insurance policy

Knowing the specifics of insurance can be of help when determining which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

UM/UIM Coverage

This coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Medical costs insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills such as chiropractic care, EMT expenses and X-ray expenses. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible

Collision protection

This coverage covers damage to your Passat resulting from a collision with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for things like colliding with another moving vehicle, crashing into a ditch, sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a building and damaging your car on a curb. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Coverage for liability

This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to people or other property that is your fault. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for 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 values of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage protects against claims such as loss of income, medical services, repair costs for stationary objects and pain and suffering. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as falling objects, vandalism, hail damage, rock chips in glass and theft. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

When searching for affordable auto insurance quotes, make sure you don’t sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. The aim is to find the BEST coverage at the best price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.

More affordable car insurance is attainable on the web as well as from insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and usually these regional carriers only sell through independent insurance agents.

In this article, we covered a lot of tips how to reduce 1991 Volkswagen Passat insurance rates online. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a smaller regional carrier.

Additional information can be read below:

• Insuring a Leased Car (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Cellphones, Texting and Driving (iihs.org)
• Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
• Vehicle Size and Weight FAQ (iihs.org)
• What if I Can’t Find Coverage? (Insurance Information Insitute)