2008 Mazda Mazda3 Insurance Rates – 9 Tips to Save

High-priced car insurance can bleed your personal savings and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparison shopping is an excellent way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

Vehicle owners have many insurers to pick from, and even though it’s nice to be able to choose, so many choices can make it hard to adequately compare rates.

Smart consumers take time to do price comparisons on a regular basis because insurance prices tend to go up over time. Even if you got the best rates on Mazda3 coverage a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower premium rate today. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you’re about to find out the only way to find better coverage at a better price.

Finding affordable coverage is not rocket science. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. But drivers must comprehend how companies sell online and take advantage of how the system works.

Ways to get auto insurance price quotes

There are a variety of methods to shop for auto insurance, and some are more efficient than others. You could spend your day driving to insurance agencies in your area, or you could use the web to achieve your goal.

Most of the best insurance companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and each company provides a quote for coverage. This prevents consumers from doing quote requests for each company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The one downside to using this type of form is you can’t choose which providers you want to price. If you wish to select from a list of companies to compare rates, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.

It’s up to you which method you use, but be certain you are entering identical coverages and limits for every quote you compare. If each company quotes differing limits you will not be able to make a fair rate comparison. Having just a slight variation in limits can make a big difference in price. And when comparison shopping, quoting more helps locate the best rates.

Cheaper insurance rates with discounts

Some insurance providers don’t list the entire discount list in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden discounts that may be available.

• Sign Online – Certain larger companies will give you a small discount for buying your policy on your computer.
• Early Switch Discount – A few insurance companies allow discounts for signing up before your current expiration date. The savings is around 10%.
• Federal Government Employee – Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off on Mazda3 coverage but check with your company.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Low mileage vehicles may enable drivers to earn discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
• Discounts for Cautious Drivers – Insureds who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates on Mazda3 coverage than their less cautious counterparts.
• Telematics Data – People who choose to allow data collection to track where and when they drive by using a telematic data system such as State Farm’s In-Drive could save a few bucks if their driving habits are good.
• Safety Restraint Discount – Drivers who require all occupants to fasten their seat belts can save up to 15% off the PIP or medical payment premium.
• Good Grades Discount – Getting good grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. Most companies allow this discount well after school through age 25.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents so companies give up to a 10% discount.

Discounts lower rates, but most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

Larger insurance companies and the discounts they provide can be found below.

• Geico discounts include anti-theft, military active duty, daytime running lights, anti-lock brakes, defensive driver, and five-year accident-free.
• Travelers has discounts for new car, student away at school, driver training, home ownership, and multi-car.
• Nationwide may have discounts that include accident-free, good student, anti-theft, easy pay, business or organization, multi-policy, and Farm Bureau membership.
• Farmers Insurance policyholders can earn discounts including youthful driver, good student, bundle discounts, distant student, switch companies, business and professional, and electronic funds transfer.
• Esurance offers discounts including renters, safety device, homeowner, Pac-12 alumni, online quote, claim free, and good driver.
• State Farm offers discounts for passive restraint, multiple autos, multiple policy, good driver, and safe vehicle.
• Progressive may offer discounts for online signing, good student, homeowner, multi-policy, continuous coverage, online quote discount, and multi-vehicle.
• Mercury Insurance offers premium reductions for location of vehicle, anti-theft, good driver, type of vehicle, and professional/association.

Before buying, ask each insurance company how many discounts you can get. Discounts may not be offered everywhere. For a list of companies that offer some of these discounts, click this link.

Tailor your insurance coverage to you

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions may help you determine whether or not you could use an agent’s help.

• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• Should I buy only the required minimum liability coverage?
• Is my camper covered by my car insurance policy?
• Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
• Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• What is UM/UIM insurance?
• Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
• Do I need motorclub coverage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area.

Information about specific coverages

Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the normal coverages available from insurance companies.

Coverage for liability

Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property in an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 bodily injury coverage, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage protects against claims like emergency aid, pain and suffering and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for bills such as ambulance fees, prosthetic devices and rehabilitation expenses. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Coverage for collisions

Collision coverage pays for damage to your Mazda3 from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for claims such as hitting a mailbox, driving through your garage door, sideswiping another vehicle, damaging your car on a curb and scraping a guard rail. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Comprehensive coverage

This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hail damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.