1997 Cadillac Catera Insurance Rates

Trying to find cheap insurance is difficult for drivers not familiar with comparing rates online. There are so many options available that it can easily become a real challenge to compare rates.

What determines Cadillac Catera insurance premiums?

Many factors are considered when pricing auto insurance. Some factors are common sense such as your driving history, but other criteria are less apparent such as your marital status or how safe your car is.When buying insurance coverage it’s important to understand some of the elements that help calculate your premiums. If you have a feel for what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this enables informed choices that could help you find better insurance coverage rates.

• Credit rating impacts premiums – Having a good credit rating is a big factor in determining what you pay. Drivers with very good credit scores tend to file fewer claims as compared to drivers with poor credit scores. Therefore, if your credit score can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your 1997 Cadillac Catera if you clean up your credit.
• Older drivers pay less – Older people have been proven to be more responsible, are lower risk to insure and receive fewer citations.Youthful drivers are statistically shown to get distracted easily when driving and because of this, their insurance coverage rates are much higher.
• Discounts for GPS tracking and theft deterrents – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart car theft and help bring rates down.
• Vocation reflects on rates – Occupational choices like lawyerspolice officers and stock brokers have higher premium rates attributed to intense work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, careers like professors, students and the unemployed pay lower than average rates for Catera coverage.
• Protect yourself with liability protection – Your insurance coverage policy’s liability coverage will provide protection if you are found liable for an accident. This coverage provides legal defense which can cost a lot. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.

Take policy discounts and save

Some insurers don’t always advertise their entire list of discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we researched a few of the more well known and the more hidden discounts that you may qualify for. If you are not receiving all the discounts you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• Seat Belts Save – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle up before driving can save a little off the medical payments premium.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Larger companies have a break if you buy some life insurance too.
• Early Renewal Discounts – A few larger companies allow discounts for switching policies before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
• New Vehicle Savings – Buying a new car instead of a used car can save up to 30% since newer vehicles have better safety ratings.
• Homeowners Discount – Just being a homeowner can save you money because it is proof of financial responsibility.

As a sidenote, most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though you would think you could get a free insurance policy, insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will bring down your premiums.

Some of the insurance companies that may offer quotes with some of the discounts shown above include:

• Progressive
• AAA
• Farmers Insurance
• Geico
• Esurance
• SAFECO
• State Farm

When quoting, ask every insurance company to apply every possible discount. Savings may not apply in your area. If you would like to view insurance companies who offer online insurance quotes, click this link.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Popular insurance providers such as State Farm, Allstate and Geico endlessly run television and radio advertisements. They all seem to tend to make the same promise that drivers will save a bundle if you move your insurance policy to them. It sounds good, but how can they all save you money? It’s all in the wording.

Most companies have strict underwriting profiles for the type of driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 30 and 50, has few claims, and has excellent credit. Anybody who meets those qualifications may get the lowest car insurance rates and will cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who don’t qualify for those criteria will see higher rates and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. That’s the way companies can truthfully make it sound like they have such great premium rates.

Because every company is different, you absolutely need to do a rate comparison at every renewal. It is impossible to guess which insurance company will have the lowest car insurance rates for your situation.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When it comes to choosing coverage, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different.

Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether or not you may require specific advice.

• What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
• Can I rent a car in Mexico?
• Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
• What if I owe more than I can insure my car for?
• What can I do if my company denied a claim?
• Should I waive the damage coverage when renting a car?
• Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form.

Car insurance coverage basics

Knowing the specifics of your policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.

Collision coverage

This coverage pays for damage to your Catera from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers things like backing into a parked car, hitting a mailbox and crashing into a building. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Cadillac Catera.

Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Normally these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for immediate expenses such as dental work, EMT expenses, chiropractic care, funeral costs and rehabilitation expenses. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as hitting a bird, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.

Coverage for liability

This provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage pays for claims like legal defense fees, attorney fees, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, bail bonds and medical expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible.

Make a quick buck

Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, not issuing a premium refund, unfair underwriting practices or policy cancellation. No matter why you want to switch, switching companies can be pretty painless.

We’ve covered many ideas to reduce 1997 Cadillac Catera insurance rates online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote car insurance, the better chance you’ll have of finding inexpensive car insurance. Consumers could even find that the best price on insurance coverage is with a lesser-known regional company.

Cost effective 1997 Cadillac Catera insurance is available both online and from local insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these smaller companies work with local independent agents.

To learn more, take a look at these articles:

• Collision Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Older Drivers FAQ (iihs.org)
• When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)