Cheap 2002 GMC Sonoma Insurance Quotes

Being forced to pay for pricey auto insurance premiums can draw down your bank account and force you to cut corners elsewhere.

You have multiple car insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and although it’s a good thing to have multiple companies, it makes it harder to locate the cheapest rates.

Eight tips to get cheaper insurance prices

Many different elements are taken into consideration when pricing auto insurance. Some are pretty understandable like your driving record, although others are not quite as obvious such as your credit history or your commute time.Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that aid in calculating the level of your policy premiums. When you understand what determines base rates, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that could help you find big savings.

Listed below are a few of the “ingredients” used by companies to determine premiums.

• Keep the miles off and save – The more you drive your GMC every year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. A lot of insurance companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars that have low annual miles can be on a lower rate level than those used for commuting. Double check that your insurance coverage coverage states the correct driver usage. Improper usage on your Sonoma can cost quite a bit.
• Small coverages can add up – There are many optional add-on coverages that can add up on your insurance coverage policy. Coverages for roadside assistance, towing, and Farm Bureau memberships may be costing you every month. They may sound like good ideas when deciding what coverages you need, but your needs may have changed so consider taking them off your policy.
• Driver age impacts prices – Inexperience drivers have a tendency to be inattentive and easily distracted when behind the wheel so insurance coverage rates are higher. Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.
• Liability is critical – Liability insurance will protect you when a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. This coverage provides legal defense coverage to defend your case. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
• Your job is a factor – Careers such as doctorspolice officers and dentists generally have higher rates than the rest of us due to high stress levels and long work days. Conversely, careers such as farmers, engineers and the unemployed pay the least for Sonoma coverage.
• Always have insurance coverage – Having a lapse in insurance coverage is a fast way to trigger a rate increase. In addition to paying higher rates, getting caught without coverage may earn you a steep fine or even jail time. You may need to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
• Higher physical damage deductibles are cheaper – Insurance for physical damage to your car, aka comp and collision, insures against damage to your GMC. Some coverage claims are a dented fender, hitting a deer, and windstorm damage. Your deductibles state the amount of money you are required to pay in the event of a claim. The higher the amount you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the less money you will pay for insurance coverage for Sonoma coverage.
• Choose high IIHS safety ratings and save – Cars with five star safety ratings can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and fewer injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you. If your GMC Sonoma has at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website you may qualify for a discount.

Which auto insurance is cheapest?

There are multiple methods you can shop for auto insurance and some are easier and takes less work. You can spend countless hours talking to agents in your area, or you can utilize the web to maximize your effort.

Most car insurance companies take part in a program where prospective buyers only type in their quote data once, and every company can give them a price based on the submitted data. This system prevents you from having to do quote forms to each company. To find out how much you can save on auto insurance click here (opens in new window).

The only drawback to using this type of form is you don’t know exactly which carriers to get quotes from. So if you prefer to pick from a list of companies to compare rates, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in your area. View list of insurance companies.

You can use whichever method you prefer to find lower rates, just make sure you are using equivalent coverage limits and deductibles for each comparison quote. If you are comparing higher or lower deductibles it’s not possible to determine which rate is truly the best. Slightly different coverages may cause a big price difference. It’s important to know that comparing all the rates in your area helps locate more affordable insurance.

Can you really save that much by switching?

Companies like Geico, State Farm and Progressive seem to constantly run ads on TV and radio. All the companies seem to make the promise about savings if you change your policy. How do they all offer you a better deal? Here is how they do it.

Insurance providers have specific characteristics for the type of insured they prefer to insure. For example, a preferred risk may be between the ages of 30 and 50, owns their home, and drives a safe vehicle. Someone who fits those characteristics may get the lowest premium rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential insureds who don’t meet this stringent profile may be required to pay more expensive rates and this results in the prospect going elsewhere. The trick is to say “drivers that switch” not “everyone who quotes” save the amount stated. This is how insurance companies can confidently state the savings. This really illustrates why it’s extremely important to get as many free insurance coverage quotes as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Find hidden discounts on car insurance

Some insurers don’t always publicize every disount available very well, so we researched both the well known and the harder-to-find credits available to you.

• Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% compared to insuring an older model.
• Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Forcing all vehicle occupants to use a seat belt can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Military Deployment Discount – Being on active deployment in the military could be rewarded with lower car insurance rates.
• Government Employee Discount – Employees or retirees of the government could qualify for a slight premium decrease for Sonoma coverage depending on your company.
• Pay Upfront and Save – By making one initial payment instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
• Low Miles Discount – Driving less may enable drivers to earn substantially lower prices.
• One Accident Forgiven – This one is not really a discount per se, but certain companies will let one accident slide before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don’t have any claims prior to being involved in the accident.
• E-sign – A few larger companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy over the internet.

As a sidenote, most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. If you do the math and it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To choose insurance companies offering car insurance discounts, click here to view.

Tailor your insurance coverage coverage to you

When it comes to buying coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions could help you determine whether or not you could use an agent’s help.

• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• When would I need rental car insurance?
• When can my company non-renew my policy?
• What discounts do I qualify for?
• Who is covered when they drive my 2002 GMC Sonoma?
• Why am I required to buy liability insurance?
• Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Car insurance 101

Learning about specific coverages of your policy can help you determine the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are typical coverage types offered by insurance companies.

Comprehensive auto coverage

This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims like theft, damage from flooding, damage from a tornado or hurricane and hitting a deer. The highest amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your GMC Sonoma.

Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Sonoma caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for things like crashing into a building, rolling your car and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Auto liability

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

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have values of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability insurance covers claims such as loss of income, repair costs for stationary objects, funeral expenses, court costs and medical expenses. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but you should buy higher limits if possible.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for expenses for X-ray expenses, chiropractic care, nursing services and hospital visits. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

A penny earned…

Cost effective 2002 GMC Sonoma insurance is available from both online companies and from local insurance agents, so you need to shop insurance coverage with both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance coverage companies do not provide rate quotes online and usually these smaller companies work with independent agencies.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

Additional articles

• How Can I Save Money on Auto Insurance? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• What Does No-Fault Insurance Cover? (Allstate)
• Reducing Your Risks in a Car Crash Video (iihs.org)
• Learn About Car Insurance (Geico)