Compare 2002 GMC Sierra 1500HD Insurance Rates

If shopping for insurance quotes online is new to you, you can easily be overwhelmed by the sheer number of insurance providers that all say they have the best rates.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these tips. Shopping for the lowest cost coverage is quite easy. Although vehicle owners do need to know the way insurance companies market on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Car insurance can cost a lot, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can help lower your rates. A few discounts will be applied when you purchase, but some need to be requested specifically prior to getting the savings.

• College Student – Kids who are enrolled in higher education away from home and do not take a car to college may qualify for this discount.
• Full Payment Discount – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time as opposed to paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
• Clubs and Organizations – Having an affiliation with qualifying clubs or civic groups could earn you a nice discount on your next renewal.
• Senior Citizens – If you’re over the age of 55, you can get a discount up to 10% for SierraHD coverage.
• Life Insurance – Some insurance carriers give a break if you buy life insurance.
• Telematics Discount – Policyholders that allow driving data submission to track driving manner by using a small device installed in their vehicle like Drivewise from Allstate or In-Drive from State Farm may get a rate reduction if they show good driving skills.
• Multi-car Discount – Having primary and secondary vehicles with one company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• ABS Brakes – Cars and trucks with ABS braking systems or traction control are much safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
• Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment may reduce rates when you quote insurance for SierraHD coverage with select insurance companies.

Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. If you do the math and it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it’s just not the way it works.

To find companies that offer the discounts shown above, click this link.

Learn how to lower your insurance rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that help calculate car insurance rates. If you understand what determines base rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that could help you find cheaper rates. Many factors are used in the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. Some are obvious like a motor vehicle report, although some other factors are more obscure like your continuous coverage or how financially stable you are.

• Too many policy claims will drive car insurance rates up – If you’re an insured who likes to file claims don’t be surprised to see much higher rates or policy non-renewal. Car insurance companies provide discounts to policyholders who only file infrequent claims. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.
• How’s your driving record? – Just one citation could increase your next policy renewal by as much as thirty percent. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Drivers with flagrant violations such as reckless driving or DUI may face state-mandated requirements to maintain a SR-22 with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to prevent their license from being revoked.
• Prevent car insurance lapses – Driving with no insurance can get your license suspended and car insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage have a gap. And not only will your rates increase, being ticketed for driving with no insurance could earn you a revoked license or a big fine.
• Do you really need the incidental coverages? – Insurance companies have many extra bells and whistles that may not really be needed if you aren’t diligent. Things like vanishing deductibles, towing, and term life insurance may not be needed and are just wasting money. You may think they are a good idea when buying your policy, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
• How old are your drivers? – Older insureds are proven to be safer behind the wheel, cause fewer claims and accidents and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.Inexperience drivers have been known to be less responsible behind the wheel and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same insurance coverage

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is unique.

For example, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation might need an agent’s assistance.

• Am I covered if I hit a deer?
• Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
• Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
• Does coverage extend to Mexico or Canada?
• I have health insurance so do I need medical payments coverage?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• Do I need more liability coverage?
• When can I cancel my policy?
• Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

The insurance bait and switch

Respected companies like Progressive, Geico, Allstate and State Farm continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim about saving some big amount if you switch your coverage. How is it possible that every company can make the same claim? It’s all in the words they use.

Insurance companies look for specific characteristics for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a preferred risk could be between the ages of 30 and 45, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. Any new insured that matches those criteria will get the preferred rates and therefore will save if they switch.

Consumers who do not match the “perfect” profile will be quoted higher premiums and the customer not purchasing. The ads say “drivers that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can make claims like that. This illustrates why you absolutely need to do a rate comparison at every renewal. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you lower prices than your current company.

Insurance coverages 101

Learning about specific coverages of insurance can be of help when determining the best coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Coverage for medical payments

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses such as ambulance fees, doctor visits, rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits and pain medications. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover you and your occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Coverage for liability

This coverage will cover damage that occurs to a person or their property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see policy limits of 100/300/100 which means a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability can pay for things such as repair costs for stationary objects, medical services, medical expenses, loss of income and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.

Comprehensive coverages

This pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like vandalism, falling objects, rock chips in glass, fire damage and hitting a bird. The maximum payout a insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Collision protection

This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Sierra 1500HD resulting from a collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers things such as rolling your car, sustaining damage from a pot hole, sideswiping another vehicle and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

In the end, you save

Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how to reduce 2002 GMC Sierra 1500HD insurance rates online. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable insurance. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from an unexpected company.

When you buy insurance online, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t have enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest cost while still protecting your assets.

Insureds leave their current company for a variety of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, unfair underwriting practices, high prices and even questionable increases in premium. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right car insurance provider is easier than you think.

For more information, feel free to browse these articles:

• Your Car has been Stolen: Now What? (Allstate)
• Safety Features for Your New Car (State Farm)
• Safe Vehicles for Teens (iihs.org)
• Rollover Crash FAQ (iihs.org)