View 2004 Dodge Caravan Car Insurance Cost

Searching for the cheapest insurance coverage rates for your Dodge Caravan? Sick and tired of trying to scrape together enough money to pay your insurance coverage bill each month? You have the same problem as many other vehicle owners.

There are many auto insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s a good thing to have a choice, more choices can make it harder to compare rates.

Finding the best rates is quite easy. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. But drivers must learn the way insurance companies market insurance on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

Discounts can really help lower rates

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there could be significant discounts to reduce the price significantly. A few discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but a few must be specifically requested in order for you to get them. If you are not receiving all the discounts you deserve, you are just wasting money.

• Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new vehicles have better safety ratings.
• Include Life Insurance and Save – Some car insurance companies give a discounted rate on car insurance if you buy some life insurance too.
• Drivers Ed for Students – Have your child complete a driver education course in high school.
• Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to fasten their seat belts may be able to save a few bucks off PIP or medical payments premium.
• Early Payment Discounts – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you can avoid the installment charge.

Discounts lower rates, but many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free car insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky. Any qualifying discounts should help lower your overall premium however.

A partial list of companies that may include some of the discounts shown above possibly include:

• Geico
• Travelers
• Farm Bureau
• Liberty Mutual
• American Family
• Progressive

Before buying, ask all the companies to give you their best rates. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be available to policyholders everywhere.

The method we recommend to compare rate quotes is to understand most of the larger companies allow for online access to give rate comparisons. The only thing you need to do is provide the companies a bit of rating information like if your license is active, whether you are single or married, any included safety features, and if a SR-22 is needed. Your information is sent automatically to all major companies and you will get price comparisons immediately.

Lower your insurance rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining insurance coverage rates. When you understand what determines premiums, this enables informed choices that can earn you cheaper rates.

• Better insurance coverage rates for uninterrupted coverage – Allowing your insurance coverage policy to lapse is a sure-fire way to trigger a rate increase. Not only will rates go up, failure to provide proof of insurance might get you a revoked license or a big fine. Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with your state DMV.
• Low coverage deductibles cost more – Your deductibles define how much you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Physical damage protection, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, insures against damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims could be rearending another vehicle, collision with a deer, and damage caused by road hazards. The more of the claim you have to pay, the less money you will pay for insurance coverage for Caravan coverage.
• Stressful job may mean higher premiums – Did you know your career choice can influence rates? Occupations such as military personnelpolice officers and stock brokers have higher rates than average because of stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, professions such as professors, athletes and retirees have the lowest average rates for Caravan coverage.
• Frequent insurance claims will cost more – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Insurance companies award most affordable rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
• Pay lower costs if you’re married – Getting married may save some money compared to being single. Having a spouse demonstrates that you tend to be more financially stable and it’s proven that married drivers tend to have fewer serious accidents.
• Combining policies can get discounts – Many insurance coverage companies apply better rates to people that have more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. The amount of the discounts can be ten or even fifteen percent. Even with this discount applied, it’s in your best interest to get quotes from other companies to guarantee you are still saving the most.
• Drive fewer miles and save – The higher the miles on your Dodge each year the more it will cost to insure it. Many insurance companies charge rates based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Cars and trucks that have low annual miles can be on a lower rate level than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your insurance coverage declarations sheet correctly shows the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money. A policy that improperly rates your Caravan may be costing you higher rates.

Will just any policy work for me?

When buying coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions could help you determine if your situation would benefit from professional advice.

• Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
• What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
• Will filing a claim cost me more?
• What exactly is covered by my policy?
• Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
• Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
• When should I remove comp and collision on my 2004 Dodge Caravan?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Can you really save if you switch?

Car insurance companies such as Progressive, Allstate and Geico consistently run ads on television and other media. All the companies seem to make the promise that drivers will save a bundle if you just switch to them. But how can every company sell you cheaper insurance coverage? It’s all in how they say it.

Different companies provide the lowest rates for the type of insured that earns them the highest profit. For example, a profitable customer may need to be a married female, has other policies, and has excellent credit. Any customer that meets those criteria will probably get cheap rates and as a result will probably save money with a new company.

Drivers who are not a match for these criteria will have to pay higher premiums which usually ends up with the customer not purchasing. The ads say “people that switch” not “everyone who quotes” save that much when switching. This is how insurance companies can make those statements. That is why you need to do a quote comparison often. It’s just not possible to know which insurance companies will have the best premium rates for your profile.

Auto insurance 101

Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverage types available from car insurance companies.

Collision coverages – Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Caravan resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for things like rolling your car, sustaining damage from a pot hole, crashing into a building, scraping a guard rail and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, a broken windshield, fire damage and theft. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses such as surgery, dental work, funeral costs and pain medications. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your 2004 Dodge Caravan.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Liability coverages – This will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property. It protects YOU against other people’s claims. It does not cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see policy limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability can pay for claims such as legal defense fees, attorney fees and bail bonds. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but buy as large an amount as possible.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

Cheap 2004 Dodge Caravan insurance is possible from both online companies as well as from independent agents, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies do not provide rates over the internet and many times these small, regional companies only sell through local independent agencies.

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never buy less coverage just to save a little money. Too many times, drivers have reduced full coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big error on their part. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best cost and still be able to protect your assets.

Additional information can be read at these links:

• Car Insurance FAQ (Trusted Choice)
• Property Damage Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Teen Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Rollover Crash FAQ (iihs.org)
• What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Vehicle Safety Ratings (iihs.org)