Cheaper 2002 Pontiac Montana Insurance Quotes

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can overdraw your accounts and force you to cut corners elsewhere.

Many auto insurance companies vie for your hard-earned dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every insurance company and get the definite lowest rate

It is always a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates yearly because insurance prices trend upward over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price for Montana insurance a year ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because we’re going to show you the right way to save on car insurance.

How to find affordable car insurance

There are a variety of methods to compare car insurance quotes, but one way is less labor-intensive and much quicker. You could spend your day driving to insurance companies in your area, or you can stay home and use online quoting to get pricing more quickly.

Many of the larger companies take part in a program that allows shoppers to enter their policy data once, and at least one company can give them a price based on that data. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions to each individual car insurance company.

To compare rates using this form now click to open in new window.

One minor caviat to pricing coverage this way is you are unable to specify the insurers you want to price. If you would rather choose individual companies to request quotes from, we have a page of the cheapest car insurance companies in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.

The approach you take is up to you, just make darn sure you compare equivalent deductibles and coverage limits on every price quote you get. If you have different values for each quote it’s impossible to make an equal comparison. Just a small difference in insurance coverages or limits may cause a big price difference. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that quoting more will increase your chances of finding a better price.

Do you qualify for discount car insurance?

Companies don’t always list every disount available in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the more common and the more hidden credits available to you.

• Multi-line Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get lower premium rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
• Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to use a seat belt could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Driver Safety – Taking part in a class that teaches safe driver techniques could earn you a small percentage discount if your company offers it.
• Renewal Discounts – A few larger companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
• Discount for Low Mileage – Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with lower prices due to less chance of an accident.
• Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less in comparison with drivers who are more careless.
• Accident Waiver – Not necessarily a discount, but some insurance companies may permit one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear for a specific time period.
• Student Discounts – Being a good student could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. The discount lasts until age 25.
• Homeowners Pay Less – Just being a homeowner can get you a discount because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.

Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

Large car insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts include:

• State Farm offers premium reductions for Drive Safe & Save, passive restraint, student away at school, multiple policy, multiple autos, and accident-free.
• Nationwide has savings for easy pay, family plan, anti-theft, Farm Bureau membership, business or organization, defensive driving, and accident-free.
• Geico offers discounts for multi-policy, membership and employees, seat belt use, emergency military deployment, and multi-vehicle.
• AAA may offer discounts for multi-car, education and occupation, good driver, multi-policy, anti-theft, and pay-in-full.
• 21st Century has discounts for homeowners, teen driver, good student, driver training, and anti-lock brakes.
• The Hartford policyholders can earn discounts including vehicle fuel type, driver training, defensive driver, bundle, anti-theft, and air bag.

When quoting, ask each company or agent which discounts can lower your rates. All car insurance discounts might not be offered on policies in your area. For a list of insurers offering car insurance discounts, follow this link.

What insurance coverages do I need?

When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions can help discover if your situation will benefit from professional help.

• Do I need motorclub coverage?
• Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
• Can I get a multi-policy discount?
• Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• How do I insure my teen driver?
• How high should deductibles be on a 2002 Pontiac Montana?
• Why do I need rental car insurance?
• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
• What if I owe more than I can insure my car for?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Why you might pay higher rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the factors that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates, this enables you to make decisions that may reward you with better car insurance rates.

The factors shown below are some of the most rate-impacting factors that factor into your rate level.

• Gaps in coverage mean higher rates – Letting your insurance expire will be a fast way to trigger a rate increase. Not only will you pay higher rates, not being able to provide proof of insurance could earn you a revoked license or a big fine.
• Improve your credit rating – Having a good credit rating is a large factor in calculating your car insurance rates. Insureds that have high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records as compared to drivers with poor credit. Therefore, if your credit history could use some work, you may save money insuring your 2002 Pontiac Montana by improving your rating.
• Lower rates with theft deterrents – Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can help prevent your vehicle from being stolen.
• Your address can influence price – Living in areas with lower population has it’s advantages if you are looking for the lowest rates. Drivers who live in large cities tend to have more aggressive driving styles and much longer commute distances. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents in addition to lower liability claims
• Filing insurance claims can cost you – Insurance companies provide better rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of claims that you cannot pay yourself.
• Employer reflects on prices – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like fire fightersairline pilots and stock brokers have higher premiums than the average policyholder because of job stress and long work hours. On the flip side, occupations like actors, athletes and performers pay the least for Montana insurance.

Drivers who switch save $407 a year? Really?

Popular car insurance providers such as Progressive, Allstate and Geico seem to constantly run ads in print and on television. All the ads make the same claim about saving some big amount after switching your car insurance coverage to their company. How does every car insurance company say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.

Car insurance companies look for specific characteristics for the type of driver that is profitable for them. One example of a profitable insured may need to be married and over the age of 30, has never had a claim, and drives less than 5,000 miles a year. Anybody who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and will probably save money with a new company.

People who do not match these stringent criteria will probably have to pay a higher premium with the end result being the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is “people that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save that much. That’s the way companies can claim big savings.

Because of this risk profiling, you absolutely need to get auto insurance quotes from several different companies. It’s just too difficult to predict which car insurance company will have the best prices for your profile.

Auto insurance specifics

Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are the normal coverages found on most auto insurance policies.

Coverage for collisions

Collision coverage covers damage to your Montana resulting from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers claims like colliding with a tree, damaging your car on a curb, hitting a parking meter and colliding with another moving vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Medical expense insurance

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for short-term medical expenses like hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses, X-ray expenses, doctor visits and surgery. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Liability insurance

Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property in an accident. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have liability limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage protects against things such as medical expenses, loss of income, structural damage, bail bonds and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Comprehensive (Other than Collision)

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

Comprehensive insurance covers things like hitting a bird, rock chips in glass and falling objects. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your 2002 Pontiac Montana.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Most of the time your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Online plus local equals savings

Cheaper 2002 Pontiac Montana insurance can be bought on the web and from local agencies, so get free auto insurance quotes from both of them to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional carriers work with independent insurance agencies.

We’ve covered some good ideas how to compare 2002 Pontiac Montana insurance rates online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote auto insurance, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from an unexpected company. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive or Geico.

Other learning opportunities

• Rental Car Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Insitute)
• (MontanaCarInsurancePros.com)
• Who Has Affordable Montana Auto Insurance for a Toyota Corolla? (MontanaCarInsurancePros.com)
• Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)
• Safety Belts FAQ (iihs.org)