Lower Your 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette Insurance Cost

Searching for cheaper auto insurance rates for your Oldsmobile Silhouette? Drivers who are new to the process of price shopping car insurance online are likely to find buying the cheapest insurance to be a formidable task.

Finding affordable coverage is not rocket science. Essentially everyone who buys car insurance should be able to find better rates. But vehicle owners must comprehend how companies price online insurance and apply this information to your search.

Learn how to lower your insurance prices

One of the most helpful ways to save on auto insurance is to to have a grasp of the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. If you have some idea of what determines base rates, this enables you to make decisions that can earn you cheaper rates. Multiple criteria are used in the calculation when premium rates are determined. Most are fairly basic such as your driving history, but some are more transparent such as your credit history or how financially stable you are.

• Cheaper premiums with safer cars – Safe vehicles tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts which can result in lower premiums.
• Low credit rating equals high costs – Having a bad credit rating is likely to be a major factor in calculating your premium rate. Insureds that have excellent credit tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit scores. If your credit rating can be improved, you could pay less to insure your 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette if you clean up your credit.
• Auto insurance rates and employer – Jobs such as doctorsairline pilots and stock brokers are shown to have higher premiums than the average policyholder due to intense work situations and lengthy work days. Conversely, careers like scientists, students and homemakers generally pay rates lower than average on Silhouette coverage.
• Married drivers get better rates – Having a spouse can get you a discount on your auto insurance bill. Marriage is viewed as being more stable financially and it’s statistically proven that being married results in fewer claims.
• More miles equals more premium – The more you drive in a year the higher your rates will be. Most companies price each vehicle’s coverage partially by how you use the vehicle. Autos that are left in the garage receive better premium rates compared to those used for work or business. An improperly rated Silhouette can cost quite a bit. Make sure your vehicle rating reflects annual mileage, because improper ratings can cost you money.

The best way we recommend to compare policy rates is to realize most larger insurance companies allow for online access to provide you with a free rate quote. To start a quote, the only thing you need to do is provide the companies a bit of rating information like your general credit rating, if you’re married, how much education you have, and deductibles desired. Your insurance information is automatically sent to multiple different insurance companies and they return quotes instantly.

Car insurance policy discounts you can’t miss

Car insurance is neither fun to buy or cheap, but you might be missing out on some discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you purchase, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for before being credited.

• Homeowners Savings – Owning a house can save you money because owning a home is proof of financial responsibility.
• Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to sucessfully take a drivers education course in high school.
• Sign Online – A few companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy digitally online.
• Club Memberships – Joining specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations can get you a small discount on your bill.
• Auto/Home Discount – When you combine your auto and homeowners insurance and insure them both with the same insurance company you could earn a discount of at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
• Resident Student – Youth drivers who attend college more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car could qualify for this discount.
• Military Rewards – Being on active deployment in the military can result in better prices.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you aren’t that lucky.

Companies that may include these discounts are:

• Geico
• Travelers
• Nationwide
• Farmers Insurance
• Esurance
• State Farm
• Progressive
• Mercury Insurance

Before buying, ask each insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. A few discounts might not be available to policyholders in your state.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Every situation is different.

These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation could use an agent’s help.

• Where can I get insurance after a DUI in my state?
• Is extra glass coverage worth it?
• Do I pay less for low miles?
• Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
• What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
• Should I buy full coverage?
• Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
• What are the financial responsibility laws in my state?
• Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
• Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

Car insurance coverages for a 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette

Knowing the specifics of your policy can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.

Medical expense coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for expenses such as prosthetic devices, ambulance fees, EMT expenses, nursing services and surgery. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers both the driver and occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible

Collision coverage

This covers damage to your Silhouette resulting from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers things such as damaging your car on a curb, backing into a parked car, crashing into a ditch and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. Another option is to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

This protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Comprehensive protection

Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like vandalism, fire damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Liability auto insurance

This provides protection from damage that occurs to people or other property by causing an accident. It protects you from claims by other people. 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. Your policy might show policy limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage protects against claims such as repair costs for stationary objects, bail bonds, emergency aid and medical expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford.

Quote more, save more

People leave their current company for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, high prices, denial of a claim and even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new insurance company is actually quite simple.

When getting insurance quotes online, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage and discovered at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

Cost effective 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette insurance can be bought from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and usually these regional carriers only sell coverage through local independent agents.

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

• Winter Driving (Insurance Information Insitute)
• State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)
• Should I Purchase an Umbrella Liability Policy? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• What to do at the Scene of an Accident (Insurance Information Insitute)