2003 Mazda Protege5 Insurance Quotes

Finding a different company that has inexpensive auto insurance can be complicated if you’ve never compared online price comparisons. But relax because there is an easy way to compare rates.

How insurance companies determine Mazda Protege5 insurance rates

Part of the car insurance buying process is learning some of the elements that go into determining the level of your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower car insurance prices. Multiple criteria are part of the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. Some factors are common sense like an MVR report, but other factors are not as apparent such as your credit history and annual miles driven.

• Deter car thieves – Owning a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can earn a premium discount. Anti-theft devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can help prevent auto theft.
• Drive less and save – Driving a lot of miles annually the more you will pay for car insurance. A lot of insurance companies rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. It’s a good idea to make sure your car insurance coverage is showing annual mileage, because improper ratings can cost you money. A policy that improperly rates your Protege5 can result in significantly higher rates.
• Car insurance lapses lead to higher rates – Having a lapse in insurance coverage will be a sure-fire way to increase your car insurance rates. In addition to paying higher rates, being ticketed for driving with no insurance could earn you fines or a revoked license.
• Your address can modify price – Residing in a rural area is a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Drivers in populated areas regularly have more traffic problems and higher rates of accident claims. Fewer people translates into fewer accident claims and lower theft and vandalism rates.
• Use one insurance company and save – Most major insurers give better rates to customers that have more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you already get this discount, it’s in your best interest to compare other insurance prices to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still save more without the discount even if you have your coverage with different companies
• Higher premiums for specific occupations – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations like military personnel, executives and financial analysts tend to have higher premium rates in part from intense work situations and lots of time spent away from family. Conversely, careers such as actors, students and the unemployed have the lowest average rates on Protege5 coverage.
• Extra coverages can add up – Policies have additional extra coverages you can purchase on your Protege5 policy. Coverage for things like replacement cost coverage, death and dismemberment, and additional equipment coverage are probably not needed. They may seem like a good idea when buying your policy, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.
• Too many claims drive up prices – If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can definitely plan on much higher rates or policy non-renewal. Companies give most affordable rates to people who are claim-free. Auto insurance is designed for claims that pose a financial burden.

Take advantage of every car insurance discount

Car insurance companies don’t always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so the below list has both the well known as well as some of the hidden credits available to you.

• Organization Discounts – Being in a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break on your next renewal.
• Theft Deterent – Cars, trucks, and SUVs optioned with advanced anti-theft systems help deter theft and that can save you a little bit as well.
• Paper-free Discount – Many car insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy on the web.
• Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get reduced rates on Protege5 coverage.
• Early Signing – A few companies offer discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
• Multiple Cars – Drivers who insure all your vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can avoid accidents so you can save 10 percent or more.
• One Accident Forgiven – Not a discount per se, but companies like Libery Mutual, Geico and Allstate will forgive one accident without getting socked with a rate hike if you have no claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you could earn a discount of at least 10 to 15 percent or more.

A little disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.

A few companies who may offer these money-saving discounts include:

• Progressive
• Farmers Insurance
• Farm Bureau
• State Farm
• Geico
• SAFECO
• Liberty Mutual

Double check with each insurance company which discounts they offer. Some of the discounts discussed earlier might not be available to policyholders in your area. For a list of car insurance companies that have a full spectrum of discounts, follow this link.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to buying coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Do I need higher collision deductibles?
• Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
• Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
• When would I need rental car insurance?
• Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
• Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
• Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
• Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?

If you’re not sure about those questions, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Car insurance coverage information

Understanding the coverages of your policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Liability car insurance

This protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage pays for things like repair costs for stationary objects, emergency aid, pain and suffering, court costs and structural damage. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but buy as much as you can afford.

Coverage for medical expenses

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for expenses like ambulance fees, doctor visits, nursing services and surgery. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover you and your occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers

This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Mazda Protege5.

Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Comprehensive insurance

This coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as theft, a broken windshield, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from getting keyed and rock chips in glass. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Coverage for collisions

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers things such as crashing into a ditch, sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with another moving vehicle, damaging your car on a curb and rolling your car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

One last thing

We just covered a lot of ways to save on 2003 Mazda Protege5 insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may be surprised to find that the lowest car insurance rates are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

Drivers leave their current company for many reasons like delays in paying claims, unfair underwriting practices, lack of trust in their agent and denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason, finding the right insurance coverage provider is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

For more information, feel free to visit the resources below:

• Protect Yourself Against Auto Theft (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
• Auto Crash Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)