Cheaper 1998 Chevrolet Prizm Car Insurance Cost

Trying to come up with a payment for expensive insurance coverage can deplete your family’s budget and make it hard to pay other bills. Doing a rate comparison is a smart way to tighten up your finances.

People have multiple insurance companies to choose from, and even though it’s nice to have a selection, lots of choices makes it harder to find a good deal.

Smart consumers take time to compare premium rates before your policy renews because prices are variable and change quite frequently. Even if you think you had the best price for Prizm coverage a couple years back you can probably find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about insurance coverage because you’re about to find out the things you must know in order to buy cheaper insurance coverage.

The best way to get rate comparisons is to take advantage of the fact most larger insurance companies pay for the opportunity to give you rate quotes. The only thing you need to do is take a few minutes to give details like if you have a valid license, how much education you have, whether you have decent credit, and types of safety features. That information is then sent to insurance companies and you receive quotes almost instantly.

Discounts to earn cheap auto insurance rates

Companies offering auto insurance do not list every policy discount very well, so the next list breaks down some of the more common and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.

• Theft Prevention System – Cars and trucks equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Online Discount – Some of the larger companies will give you a small discount for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
• Accident Forgiveness Coverage – Not necessarily a discount, but a handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident without the usual rate increase if you have no claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Seat Belt Usage – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could save 15% on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Options like air bags or automatic seat belts may get savings of 20 to 30 percent.

It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky. But all discounts will lower your overall premium however.

Large auto insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts can be found below.

• Progressive may have discounts that include online quote discount, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, good student, online signing, and continuous coverage.
• MetLife includes discounts for accident-free, defensive driver, good driver, claim-free, and good student.
• Mercury Insurance offers premium reductions for type of vehicle, accident-free, professional/association, ease of repair, and age of vehicle.
• Nationwide has discounts for accident-free, Farm Bureau membership, multi-policy, good student, and anti-theft.
• Geico policyholders can earn discounts including membership and employees, driver training, multi-policy, anti-lock brakes, federal employee, and defensive driver.
• AAA offers discounts including good student, good driver, anti-theft, AAA membership discount, and multi-policy.

When comparing rates, check with every prospective company which discounts they offer. Some discounts may not apply to policyholders in your area.

Tailor your insurance coverage coverage to you

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions can aid in determining if you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Does coverage extend to my business vehicle?
• Does my 1998 Chevy Prizm need full coverage?
• Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
• Are my friends covered when driving my car?
• Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• How much liability insurance is required?
• Am I insured when driving a different vehicle?
• Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Specific coverage details

Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find typical coverage types found on most car insurance policies.

Liability coverage

This will cover damage that occurs to a person or their property in an accident. It protects you against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

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

Liability coverage protects against things such as loss of income, medical services and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as much as you can afford.

Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as hitting a bird, rock chips in glass, fire damage, damage from getting keyed and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for expenses for chiropractic care, nursing services and EMT expenses. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Collision insurance

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for claims like crashing into a building, rolling your car, hitting a mailbox and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your 1998 Chevy Prizm.

Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.