Lower Your 1996 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 Insurance Rates

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Believe me, there are lots of residents who feel the same. Because there are so many auto insurance companies to choose from, it can be challenging to locate a more affordable insurer.

Finding affordable coverage is not rocket science. If you have a current auto insurance policy or need a new policy, you can learn to find the best rates while maintaining coverages. Drivers just need to know the most efficient way to find the lowest price over the internet.

Insurance coverage quotes and discounts

Car insurance companies do not advertise every discount very well, so the list below gives a summary of a few of the more common and also the more inconspicuous discounts you could be receiving when you buy insurance coverage online.

• Government Employees – Having worked for a branch of the government may reduce rates when you quote insurance coverage for Ram pickup insurance with a few insurance coverage companies.
• Mature Driver Discount – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may receive a small discount on rates for Ram pickup insurance.
• First Accident Forgiveness – but a handful of insurance companies will turn a blind eye to one accident before your rates go up with the catch being you have to be claim-free for a certain period of time.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or motorized seat belts may get savings of 20 to 30 percent.
• Good Grades Discount – Getting good grades may save you up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
• Onboard Data Collection – Drivers who agree to allow companies to spy on driving habits through the use of a telematics system such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive could see a rate decrease as long as the data is positive.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Buying insurance for all your vehicles with the same company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.

Just know that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, you aren’t that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down your policy cost.

A few popular companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts can be found below.

• Progressive has savings for multi-vehicle, online signing, good student, online quote discount, homeowner, continuous coverage, and multi-policy.
• SAFECO offers discounts including bundle discounts, safe driver, homeowner, teen safety rewards, and drive less.
• American Family may include discounts for air bags, multi-vehicle, good student, TimeAway discount, bundled insurance, and mySafetyValet.
• MetLife discounts include multi-policy, claim-free, accident-free, good student, defensive driver, and good driver.
• Geico has discounts for emergency military deployment, membership and employees, five-year accident-free, anti-lock brakes, good student, and daytime running lights.
• The Hartford policyholders can earn discounts including vehicle fuel type, defensive driver, anti-theft, air bag, and good student.

Check with every company how many discounts you can get. Some credits may not be available in your area. To see a list of insurance companies with the best insurance coverage discounts, follow this link.

Insurance costs are influenced by these factors

Multiple criteria are taken into consideration when quoting car insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious like an MVR report, but some are not as apparent such as your credit history or your financial responsibility.

The itemized list below are some of the factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set premiums.

• Male costs may be higher – Statistics show that females tend to be a little less risky than males. This data doesn’t prove that females are better at driving than males. Both genders cause auto accidents at a similar rate, but the males have costlier accidents. In addition to higher claims, males also get cited for more serious violations like DWI (DUI) or reckless driving. Males from age 16 to 21 generally have the highest accident percentage so it costs more to insure them.
• Getting married can lower costs – Being married may save some money when shopping for car insurance. Having a spouse means you’re more financially stable and statistics prove drivers who are married file infrequent claims.
• High physical damage deductibles lower premiums – Physical damage protection, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your Dodge. A few examples of covered claims are a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, and burglary. Your deductibles state the amount of money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before your car insurance pays a claim. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance for Ram pickup insurance.
• Companies want multiple policies – The majority of insurers provide a discount to clients who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to ten percent or more. Even if you qualify for this discount already, it’s always a smart idea to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money.

Situations that may require an agent’s advice

When it comes to choosing coverage, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.

• Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
• What is roadside assistance coverage?
• How do I insure my teen driver?
• Does insurance cover damages from a DUI accident?
• Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?
• Who is covered when they drive my 1996 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500?
• If my 1996 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
• Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
• What is no-fault insurance?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.

Is there deception in advertising?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that claim the cheapest rates from the likes of State Farm and Allstate. They all seem to advertise claims about saving some big amount if you move your coverage to them.

It sounds good, but how can they all make almost identical claims? You have to listen carefully.

Many companies give the cheapest rates for a prospective insured that will be a good risk. A good example of this type of driver could be married and over the age of 30, has had continuous coverage, and drives a lower-performance vehicle. Any new insured that fits those parameters gets the lowest prices and as a result will probably save a lot if they switch.

Drivers who don’t qualify for the ideal profile will see higher prices and ends up with business not being written. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “people that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save the amount stated. That is how insurance companies can make claims that they all have the best car insurance rates. Different companies use different criteria so it’s extremely important to get insurance coverage quotes as often as possible. It’s just not possible to know which company will have the best rates.

Parts of your insurance policy

Having a good grasp of a insurance policy can help you determine appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are typical coverage types available from insurance companies.

Auto collision coverage

Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against things such as hitting a mailbox, sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a building and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

Auto liability insurance

This coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people in an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/50 which stand for a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability insurance covers things such as loss of income, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, pain and suffering, court costs and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but buy as large an amount as possible.

Medical costs insurance

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for short-term medical expenses for chiropractic care, ambulance fees, hospital visits and EMT expenses. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as a broken windshield, damage from a tornado or hurricane, damage from flooding, damage from getting keyed and falling objects. The maximum payout a insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

UM/UIM Coverage

This coverage provides protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Dodge Ram Pickup 2500.

Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.

More choices the merrier

Some insurance providers may not provide online rate quotes and these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent agencies. Low-cost 1996 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 insurance is definitely available from both online companies and from local agencies, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from.

When shopping online for insurance, it’s very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice full coverage and discovered at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price and still be able to protect your assets.

Additional information is available at these links:

• How Does Hitting a Deer Impact Insurance Rates? (Allstate)
• Air Bags: Potential Dangers to Your Children (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Distracted Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Insitute)