2003 Chevrolet Malibu Car Insurance Quotes – 9 Tricks for Cheaper Rates

Do you get exhausted from sacrificing each month for car insurance? You have the same problem as most other consumers. Many insurers compete for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the absolute best rate

Auto insurance companies offer many discounts

Auto insurance is not cheap nor is it fun to buy but you might find some hidden discounts that may help make it more affordable. Some discounts will apply at the time you complete a quote, but a few must be asked for before you get the savings.

• ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles have fewer accidents and will save you 10% or more.
• Paperwork-free – Certain auto insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing over the internet.
• Accident Waiver – This one isn’t a discount, but a handful of insurance companies permit an accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims prior to being involved in the accident.
• Save with a New Car – Buying auto insurance coverage on a new vehicle can get you a discount due to better safety requirements for newer models.
• Club Memberships – Participating in specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations is a good way to get lower rates when getting a insurance coverage quote.
• Safety Course Discount – Completing a course in defensive driver is a good idea and can lower rates depending on where you live.
• Home Ownership Discount – Owning your own home or condo may trigger a policy discount on auto insurance since home ownership means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
• Telematics Data Discounts – Policyholders that allow their insurance company to analyze driving patterns by installing a telematics device like Allstate’s Drivewise could save a few bucks if they exhibit good driving behavior.
• Student in College – Youth drivers who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from home and won’t have access to an insured vehicle can receive lower rates.

We need to note that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free auto insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

A few companies that may include some of the above discounts may include but are not limited to:

• State Farm
• Geico
• Liberty Mutual
• The Hartford
• MetLife
• Progressive

When quoting, ask every company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts listed above might not be offered on policies in your area. To see companies that offer some of these discounts, click this link.

Do I just need basic coverages?

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.

• Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
• Do I pay less for low miles?
• What is no-fault insurance?
• Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
• Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
• When can I cancel my policy?
• Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?
• Is my ex-spouse still covered by my policy?
• Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of insurance coverage companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.

But the ad said I’d save 15% in 15 minutes!

Drivers constantly see and hear ads for insurance coverage savings by Progressive, Geico, Allstate and State Farm. They all convey the message about how much you will save if you move to them.

But how can every company charge lower premium rates? It’s all in how they say it.

Most companies have specific criteria for a prospective insured that will most likely be profitable. A good example of a desirable insured should be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and does not commute to work. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will get low car insurance rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Insureds who do not fit the “perfect” profile must pay higher premium rates and ends up with the prospect going elsewhere. The ads state “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much when switching. That’s the way companies can truthfully make those claims.

Different companies use different criteria so it is so important to compare rate quotes every year. It’s just too difficult to predict with any certainty which company will give you lower rates than your current company.

Detailed coverages of your insurance policy

Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy aids in choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverage types available from insurance companies.

Liability coverage

Liability insurance can cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU from claims by 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. Your policy might show 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 property damage coverage for $100,000. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability can pay for claims such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, court costs and structural damage. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but buy higher limits if possible.

Medical expense insurance

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for nursing services, hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses, chiropractic care and ambulance fees. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto collision coverage

This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Malibu from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for things like scraping a guard rail, colliding with a tree, colliding with another moving vehicle and driving through your garage door. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive (Other than Collision)

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as damage from getting keyed, fire damage, vandalism and theft. The highest amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your Chevy Malibu.

Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Usually these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

One last thing about your coverage

The cheapest 2003 Chevy Malibu insurance is attainable online as well as from independent agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not offer the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies work with local independent agencies.

When buying insurance coverage, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that they should have had better coverage. Your goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best cost.

You just read many ways to shop for 2003 Chevy Malibu insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding inexpensive insurance coverage. Consumers may even find the best price on auto insurance is with a small mutual company. These companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

Other learning opportunities

• Think You’re a Safe Driver? (State Farm)
• How Much is Sacramento Auto Insurance for a Chevrolet Malibu? (InsureSacramento.com)
• Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)
• Five Tips to Save on Auto Insurance (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Vehicle Insurance in the U.S. (Wikipedia)
• Safety Belts FAQ (iihs.org)