How Much Does 2009 Volkswagen Passat Insurance Cost?

Want cheaper auto insurance rates for your Volkswagen Passat? No one in their right mind likes paying for auto insurance, especially when their premiums are too high. Big companies like Progressive, State Farm and Geico constantly bombard you with catchy ads and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the corporate glitz and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It is always a good idea to get comparison quotes yearly since insurance prices go up and down regularly. If you had the lowest quotes on Passat insurance a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you one of the best ways to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you have a policy now or are just looking to switch companies, you can follow these tips to reduce the price you pay while maintaining coverages. Finding affordable coverage is not rocket science. Drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to find the lowest price over the internet.

How to buy insurance coverage

There are a variety of methods you can shop for insurance coverage but some are easier and takes less work. You can waste a few hours (or days) driving to agents in your area, or you can stay home and use the internet to achieve your goal.

All the larger companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to enter their coverage request one time, and each company then gives them pricing. This prevents consumers from doing quote requests to every company.

To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to doing it this way is you don’t know exactly which carriers to get quotes from. If you wish to select individual companies to request quotes from, we have a listing of companies who write insurance coverage in your area. Click to view list.

Which method you use is up to you, but make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples information for every quote you compare. If you have higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best.

Reduce insurance rates with these tips

Lots of things are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some of the criteria are obvious such as your driving record, although some other factors are not as apparent such as your marital status or your financial responsibility.An important part of buying insurance is that you know a few of the rating criteria that are used to determine the price you pay for insurance. When consumers understand what impacts premium levels, this enables you to make decisions that can earn you lower rates.

• Save money by staying claim free – If you are a frequent claim filer, you should expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Companies give lower rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Your car insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
• Low mileage costs less – Driving a lot of miles in a year’s time the more you’ll pay to insure it. Most companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use cost less to insure than cars that get driven a lot. Having the wrong rating on your Passat can cost quite a bit. Ask your agent if your policy is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle.
• Where you live can impact prices – Being located in areas with lower population can be a good thing when buying insurance. Urban drivers have to deal with congested traffic and more time behind the wheel. Fewer people means less chance of accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
• Safer the car lower the rate – Safer cars can get you lower premiums. These vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and cheaper rates on your policy. If your Volkswagen Passat is rated at a minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website it is probably cheaper to insure.
• Save money by raising deductibles – Comp and collision deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of some claims that would be covered are rearending another vehicle, damage from fire, and damage caused by road hazards. The more damage repair cost the insured is willing to pay, the better rate you will receive on Passat insurance.
• Rates can drop if you have more than one policy – Most major companies will award lower prices to buyers that purchase more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to compare other insurance prices to verify if the discount is saving money.

Get cheaper auto insurance with discounts

Some providers do not advertise all possible discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the next list breaks down both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Payment Method – If you can afford to pay the entire bill rather than spreading payments over time you may have a lower total premium amount.
• Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts as much as 30%.
• Military Deployment Discount – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better premium rates.
• Accident Forgiveness Coverage – Not really a discount, but a handful of insurance companies will turn a blind eye to one accident without the usual rate increase if you are claim-free before the accident.
• Government Employee Discount – Having worked for a branch of the government could provide a small rate reduction on Passat insurance but check with your company.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn’t work that way.

Insurance companies who may offer most of these discounts include:

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

When getting a coverage quote, ask every insurance company which credits you are entitled to. Some discounts listed above might not be offered in your area.

Tailor your auto insurance coverage to you

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

• What discounts do I qualify for?
• What is no-fault insurance?
• Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
• Does coverage extend to my business vehicle?
• Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver?
• Are rock chip repairs covered?
• What if I total my 2009 Volkswagen Passat and owe more than it’s worth?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

The coverage is in the details

Learning about specific coverages of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Auto insurance terms can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are typical coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Comprehensive auto coverage

This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as rock chips in glass, fire damage and a broken windshield. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Liability car insurance

Liability insurance provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Alternatively, you may have a combined single limit or CSL which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability can pay for things like medical expenses, legal defense fees, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as much as you can afford.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses such as doctor visits, chiropractic care, prosthetic devices, hospital visits and surgery. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover all vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Collision coverage

This pays for damage to your Passat caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as damaging your car on a curb, backing into a parked car, crashing into a ditch and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This provides protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your 2009 Volkswagen Passat.

Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.

More choices the merrier

When searching for cheap auto insurance quotes, make sure you don’t reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.

You just read some good ideas how you can compare 2009 Volkswagen Passat insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies. Regional companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm, Geico and Nationwide.

Discount 2009 Volkswagen Passat insurance can be purchased on the web and from local insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer price quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers only sell through independent agents.

Helpful learning opportunities

• Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)
• Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Frontal Crash Tests (iihs.org)
• No-Fault Auto Insurance Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)