Cheaper 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser Insurance Cost

Having to pay for overpriced insurance can sap your family’s budget and put a big crunch on your finances. With drivers having so many insurance companies to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to locate the best insurance provider.

Finding affordable coverage is not rocket science. If you are insured now or need new coverage, you can use these techniques to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. Drivers just need to learn the tricks to compare company rates on the web.

How much is insurance coverage?

Lowering your 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser insurance coverage rates is pretty simple and can save money. The only requirement is to invest a little time to compare rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. Shoppers can get rates by following the guidelines below.

1. The recommended way to get the best comparison quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison click to view form in new window. This form prevents you from having to do multiple quote forms to each individual insurance coverage company. One form submission gets prices estimates from multiple low-cost companies.
2. A more time consuming way to analyze rates requires you to visit the website for each individual company and fill out their own quote form. For examples sake, let’s assume you want to compare Allstate, 21st Century and Progressive. You would be required to visit each site to enter your coverage information, which is not fast way to get rate quotes.

   To view a list of companies in your area, click here.

3. The least efficient way to get comparison rates is calling or driving to all the different insurance agencies. Comparing rate quotes online makes this unnecessary unless you have a need for the professional assistance of a local agency. Although, it is possible compare online quotes and still use a local agent.

However you get your quotes, ensure you are comparing exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote. If you have different deductibles it will be nearly impossible to make a fair rate comparison.

These discounts can slash insurance rates

Some insurance providers don’t necessarily list the complete list of policy discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below gives a summary of some of the more common and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using when you buy insurance coverage online.

• Defensive Driver – Participating in a course in defensive driver could cut 5% off your bill and easily pay for the cost of the class.
• Full Payment Discount – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than spreading payments over time you can actually save on your bill.
• Discount for New Cars – Buying a new car model can save up to 30% because new vehicles are generally safer.
• Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you could earn a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
• Senior Citizen Rates – Older drivers can possibly qualify for lower premium rates for PT Cruiser insurance.
• Multi-car Discount – Drivers who insure more than one vehicle with one company can get a discount for every vehicle.

Remember that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So even though you would think it’s possible to get free car insurance, that’s just not realistic.

Companies and a selection of discounts are outlined below.

• State Farm may include discounts for multiple autos, safe vehicle, driver’s education, Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, multiple policy, and defensive driving training.
• Nationwide offers discounts including Farm Bureau membership, defensive driving, multi-policy, good student, business or organization, and anti-theft.
• Geico may have discounts that include multi-policy, seat belt use, military active duty, defensive driver, federal employee, and five-year accident-free.
• AAA offers discounts for multi-policy, education and occupation, good student, anti-theft, multi-car, pay-in-full, and AAA membership discount.
• 21st Century policyholders can earn discounts including 55 and older, theft prevention, good student, student driver, and air bags.
• The Hartford includes discounts for driver training, defensive driver, vehicle fuel type, air bag, and good student.

It’s a good idea to ask every insurance company how many discounts you can get. Some credits might not be offered in every state. If you would like to choose from a list of insurance companies with discount insurance rates, click here.

When do I need an agent’s advice?

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.

• Should I waive the damage coverage when renting a car?
• How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
• Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
• Is my ex-spouse still covered by my policy?
• Are my friends covered when driving my 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
• Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
• When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
• Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Lower your insurance premiums

Multiple criteria are taken into consideration when pricing auto insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious such as your driving history, although others are less apparent such as your credit history or how financially stable you are.A large part of saving on insurance is knowing some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for insurance. If you have some idea of what determines base rates, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower insurance prices.

The factors shown below are some of the most rate-impacting factors companies use to determine your premiums.

• Liability coverage claims can be big – Your insurance policy’s liability coverage kicks in when a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is pretty cheap compared to comp and collision, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
• Keep the miles off and save – The more miles you rack up on your Chrysler annually the higher your rates will be. A lot of companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos that are left in the garage can be on a lower rate level than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Improper usage on your PT Cruiser is throwing money out the window. Double check that your insurance declarations sheet is rated on the proper vehicle usage.
• Insure car and home with the same company – Most insurers afford a discount for people who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. The amount of the discounts can be five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you’re getting this discount drivers will still want to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still be able to find lower rates even if you have your coverage with different companies
• Get better rates if married – Having a wife or husband may earn you lower rates compared to being single. Having a spouse demonstrates that you tend to be more mature and responsible and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
• Deter theft and reduce rates – Selecting a car model that has a built-in theft deterrent system can help lower your premiums. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all help stop auto theft and help lower rates.
• Increase physical damage deductibles and save – Insurance for physical damage to your car, aka comp and collision, protects your Chrysler from damage. Examples of some claims that would be covered are a windshield shattered by a rock, hail damage, and windstorm damage. Deductibles for physical damage define how much you are willing to pay before your insurance pays a claim. The more of the claim you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your insurance will be for PT Cruiser insurance.
• Drivers with high credit save on insurance – Your credit rating can be an important factor in determining premium rates. People that have very high credit ratings tend to be better risks to insure than drivers who have worse credit. If your credit rating can be improved, you could pay less to insure your 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser by spending a little time repairing your credit.
• Safety first – Safe vehicles tend to be cheaper to insure. Vehicles built for safety have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and more competitive rates for policyholders.

Specific coverage details

Understanding the coverages of auto insurance helps when choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Collision coverage protection

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

Collision insurance covers things such as hitting a parking meter, backing into a parked car, crashing into a building, crashing into a ditch and damaging your car on a curb. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses like rehabilitation expenses, prosthetic devices, pain medications, EMT expenses and surgery. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a 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 any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Coverage for liability

Liability insurance provides protection from damage that occurs to other’s property or people in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have liability limits of 100/300/100 that means you have $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability insurance covers things like structural damage, medical services, pain and suffering and legal defense fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.

Comprehensive insurance

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims like theft, hitting a bird, a broken windshield and hail damage. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

This coverage provides protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Smart consumers save more

Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how you can reduce 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser insurance car insurance rates online. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote insurance coverage, the better chance you’ll have of finding inexpensive insurance coverage. You may even find the biggest savings come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Some small companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate or State Farm.

As you restructure your insurance plan, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best cost.

Some insurance providers don’t offer rates over the internet smaller providers prefer to sell through local independent agencies. Cheap 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser insurance is definitely available from both online companies as well as from independent agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money.

Much more information about insurance is available on the following sites:

• Car Insurance FAQ (Trusted Choice)
• What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• How to Avoid Buying a Flooded Car (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Teen Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)
• State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)