Compare 1998 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Insurance Rates

Vehicle owners not familiar with buying car insurance online will discover buying cheaper insurance coverage is quite challenging.

You should make it a habit to get comparison quotes once or twice a year since prices are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price for Ram pickup insurance a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because we’re going to demonstrate how to quote online to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

The purpose of this article is to tell you how car insurance quotes work and some tricks to saving. If you have car insurance now, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. But consumers can benefit by having an understanding of how the larger insurance companies market on the web and take advantage of how the system works.

Insurance quotes comparison

The are a couple different ways to get quotes from many insurance companies in your state. The recommended way to lower the rate you pay for Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 insurance is to jump online and get quotes. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in a couple minutes as outlined below.

• The most efficient method to find low rates would be an industry-wide quote request form click to view form in new window. This type of form eliminates the need for separate quotation requests for every insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form gets insurance cost estimates from many national carriers. Just one form and you’re done.
• A more time consuming way to compare rate quotes is to manually visit the website for every company you want to comare and go through the quote process again. For example, let’s assume you need rates from Allstate, Farmers and Progressive. You would need to go to every website and punch in your information repeatedly, which is why first method is reommended. For a list of companies in your area, click here.
• The least recommended method to get price estimates is driving to each insurance agency near you. Comparing online rate quotes eliminates this option unless you require the professional assistance only provided by licensed agents. Although you can compare online quotes and still use a local agent.

However you get your quotes, double check that you are using exactly the same coverage limits for each quote you get. If the quotes have different deductibles you can’t possibly make an equal comparison. Even a minor difference in coverage limits could throw off the whole comparison. Just remember that comparing more company’s prices increases the change that you will find more affordable insurance. Not every company allows you to get price estimates online, so it’s recommended that you also compare prices from those companies as well.

Discounts can really help lower premiums

Car insurance is not inexpensive, but you might be missing out on some discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. A few discounts will be applied at quote time, but occassionally some discounts must be requested specifically before you will receive the discount.

• Distant Student – Youth drivers who are enrolled in higher education away from home and leave their car at home could qualify for this discount.
• Pay Upfront and Save – By paying your entire bill at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can avoid monthly service charges.
• Auto/Home Discount – If you can combine your auto and homeowners policy and insure them with the same company you could save up to 20% and get you low cost insurance coverage.
• Club Memberships – Joining qualifying employment or professional organizations could qualify you for a break on your policy.
• Government Employee Discount – Having worked for a branch of the government could qualify for a slight premium decrease for Ram pickup insurance but check with your company.
• Theft Deterent System – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices prevent vehicle theft and will qualify for a discount on a insurance coverage quote.
• Senior Discount – Mature drivers can get better car insurance rates for Ram pickup insurance.

Remember that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don’t profit that way. Any amount of discount should help reduce your car insurance premiums.

To choose insurers with discount rates, click here.

Will just any policy work for me?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

For example, these questions might help in determining whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

• Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• Should I carry comprehensive and collision coverage?
• How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
• Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
• Can my teen drive my company car?
• When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
• Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?
• How much liability insurance is required?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

What determines Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 insurance prices?

A large part of saving on insurance is knowing some of the factors that help calculate your insurance rates. If you understand what determines base rates, this enables you to make decisions that could result in lower premium levels. Lots of things are used in the calculation when pricing auto insurance. Most are fairly basic like your driving record, but others are less obvious such as your marital status or your commute time.

Shown below are some of the major factors companies use to determine prices.

• Pay more of a claim out-of-pocket – Physical damage deductibles tell how much you are required to pay if the claim is covered. Protection for physical damage, aka comp and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of covered claims could be colliding with a stationary object, collision with a deer, and having a roll-over accident. The more damage repair cost you’re willing to pay, the less your insurance will be for Ram pickup insurance.
• Gender and car insurance costs – Statistics show that females tend to be a little less risky than males. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Females and males are in auto accidents at a similar rate, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI.
• Decrease premiums by maintaining coverage – Driving without insurance coverage in place is illegal and insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage cancel without a new policy in place. And not only will your rates increase, the inability to provide proof of insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time. You may then be required to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
• Occupation impacts insurance rates – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like fire fighters, social workers and stock brokers generally have higher premiums than the average policyholder because of high stress and incredibly demanding work hours. On the flip side, careers like actors, athletes and retirees have lower than average premiums for Ram pickup insurance.
• Do you need those extra policy coverages? – There are quite a few extra coverages you can purchase if you don’t pay attention. Coverages for roadside assistance, towing coverage, and motor club memberships are probably not needed. They may seem good initially, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.
• Tickets mean higher prices – Being a careful driver impacts premiums far more than you think. Attentive drivers pay less for auto insurance as compared to careless drivers. Only having one driving citation can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who have serious violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find they need to prove financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent a license revocation.
• Having a spouse can lower premiums – Your spouse may cut your premiums when shopping for insurance. It means you’re more stable financially and it’s statistically proven that married couples file fewer claims.
• How much liability insurance – Your insurance policy’s liability coverage is the protection if you are ruled to be at fault for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. It provides legal defense coverage which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability is cheap compared to comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.

Does auto insurance advertising bend the truth?

Companies like Progressive, Geico, Allstate and State Farm endlessly run ads on TV and radio. All the companies state the claim of big savings if you change your policy. It sounds good, but how can they all charge you less for car insurance? Just pay attention to how they say it.

All the different companies have specific characteristics for the driver that will be a good risk. One example of a desirable insured may need to be between the ages of 30 and 50, carries high limits, and drives less than 5,000 miles a year. A driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who fall outside those criteria will have to pay a higher rate and business not being written. The wording the ads use say “drivers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save the amount stated. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

Each company has different criteria, so you really need to compare as many free insurance coverage quotes as you can. Because you cannot predict which company will have the best car insurance rates.

Auto insurance policy specifics

Knowing the specifics of a auto insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Collision coverage protection

Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage protects against things like colliding with another moving vehicle, backing into a parked car and driving through your garage door. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

UM/UIM Coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Usually these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as rock chips in glass, damage from flooding, fire damage, falling objects and hitting a bird. The maximum amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Medical costs insurance

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for expenses for things like surgery, doctor visits, hospital visits and funeral costs. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Liability insurance

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

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see liability limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as loss of income, pain and suffering, court costs and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but you should buy higher limits if possible.

At the end of the day…

Consumers leave their current company for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, being labeled a high risk driver, high prices and unfair underwriting practices. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new insurance coverage company can be less work than you think.

We’ve covered a lot of information how to lower your 1998 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 insurance car insurance rates. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get premium rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the biggest savings come from a small mutual company.

When getting insurance coverage quotes online, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best cost while not skimping on critical coverages.

Other information

• Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Auto Insurance Basics (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Insitute)
• When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)