Save on 2004 Dodge Dakota Insurance Rates

Paying for expensive Dodge Dakota insurance can empty your monthly budget and maybe even restrict other spending. Comparing price quotes is an excellent way to slash your bill and have more diposable income.

With so many companies and agents to choose from, it can be impossible to find the best company.

Finding the lowest cost protection is simple if you know the tricks. If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you can use these tips to get lower rates and still get good coverage. Vehicle owners only need an understanding of the most effective way to buy car insurance online.

Use discounts to get cheaper car insurance rates

Companies don’t always list every possible discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below contains both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden credits available to bring down your rates.

• Driving Data Discount – Insureds who allow their insurance company to study driving habits by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as Progressive’s Snapshot may see discounts if they are good drivers.
• Include Life Insurance and Save – Larger insurance companies have a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
• Sign Early and Save – A few insurance companies allow discounts for switching companies prior to your current policy expiration. It can save you around 10%.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts could see savings of 20 to 30 percent.
• Student Discounts – Excelling in school can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
• Buy New and Save – Putting car insurance coverage on a new car can save you some money since new model year vehicles are generally safer.

A little disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. If you do the math and it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way.

If you would like to view companies with discount rates, click here.

How to get insurance coverage rate quotes

Cutting your insurance coverage rates is pretty simple and can save money. Drivers just need to take time to compare rate quotes to find the company with the cheapest insurance coverage quotes. This can be accomplished by using one of the methods below.

• Probably the best way to get quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This method keeps you from doing separate quotes to each individual insurance coverage company. One form submission gets you price quotes from all major companies.
• Another way to get quotes online is to take the time to go to each company website to request a price quote. For example, we’ll pretend you want to compare rates from Auto-Owners, Safeco and Farmers. To get each rate you have to take the time to go to each site and repeatedly type in your coverage information, which can take a lot of time. For a list of companies in your area, click here.
• The hardest way to find and compare rates is driving around to all the different insurance agencies. The fact that you can get quotes online has reduced the need for local agents unless you require the professional guidance that can only be provided by a licensed insurance agent. It is possible to get prices online but still have the advice of a local agent.

It’s up to you which method you use, but try to use apples-to-apples coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you are comparing differing limits you will not be able to determine the best price for your Dodge Dakota.

Tailor your insurance coverage coverage to you

When buying adequate coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.

• Why am I required to buy liability insurance?
• How do I buy GAP insurance?
• Is a blown tire covered by insurance?
• What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
• Should I buy only the required minimum liability coverage?
• Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
• Am I better off with higher deductibles on my 2004 Dodge Dakota?
• Should I have a commercial auto policy?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.

Car insurance coverages 101

Having a good grasp of your car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages for your vehicles. Car insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are typical coverages available from car insurance companies.

Liability insurance

This coverage provides protection 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.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see values of 100/300/100 that means you have a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage protects against claims like legal defense fees, funeral expenses and emergency aid. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Comprehensive coverages

Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as hail damage, fire damage, a broken windshield, damage from getting keyed and damage from flooding. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Coverage for collisions

This pays for damage to your Dakota caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as driving through your garage door, sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a parking meter and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Coverage for medical payments

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for expenses for pain medications, funeral costs, doctor visits, surgery and chiropractic care. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Frequently these limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

One last thing about your coverage

The cheapest 2004 Dodge Dakota insurance is available both online and with local insurance agents, so you need to shop insurance coverage with both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not offer rate quotes online and many times these regional carriers only sell coverage through local independent agents.

We just presented a lot of information how to lower your 2004 Dodge Dakota insurance premium rates. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the best premium rates are with the smaller companies. Some small companies can often provide lower prices in certain areas than their larger competitors like Progressive and Geico.

To read more, take a look at the resources below:

• If I File a Claim will My Insurance Go Up? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Airbag FAQ (iihs.org)
• Collision Coverage (Liberty Mutual)