2017 Volkswagen Passat Insurance Rates – 6 Policy Discounts

Want better insurance rates for your Volkswagen Passat? Having to pay for overpriced insurance can drain your personal savings and force you to make sacrifices. Comparison shopping can save money and help to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

Many auto insurance companies vie for your hard-earned dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every insurer to get the lowest price

Compare quotes for insurance coverage

There are several ways to compare quotes from many different insurance companies. The recommended way to find competitive Volkswagen Passat insurance rates is to jump online and get quotes. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.

1. The best way to get the best comparison quotes is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This quick form saves time by eliminating separate quote forms for each price estimate. One quote request gets insurance cost estimates from multiple companies.
2. A more difficult way to compare prices is going to each individual company website and request a quote. For example, we’ll pretend you want to compare prices for Progressive, Allstate and American Family. To do that, you would have to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.

   For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just compare the exact same coverages for each quote you get. If you enter higher or lower deductibles it’s not possible to determine the best price for your Volkswagen Passat. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages or limits may cause a big price difference. It’s important to know that obtaining a wide range of quotes helps you find more affordable rates.

Can you really save if you switch?

Big name companies like State Farm and Allstate endlessly run ads on television and other media. They all make the same claim that people will save after switching your policy. How do they all lower your prices? You have to listen carefully.

All the different companies have underwriting criteria for the type of driver they prefer to insure. For example, a driver they prefer may need to be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and drives a safe vehicle. A driver that matches those criteria will get very good premium rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Drivers who don’t qualify for these standards may receive a higher premium which translates to the prospect going elsewhere. If you pay attention, the ads say “customers who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save that much. That’s the way companies can advertise the savings. This emphasizes why you need to get as many free insurance coverage quotes as possible. It is impossible to guess with any certainty which company will have the best rates for your profile.

Six discounts for lower-cost car insurance quotes

Some companies don’t list every available discount very well, so below is a list some of the best known and the more hidden discounts that you can inquire about if you buy insurance coverage online. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are just wasting money.

• Accident-Free Discounts – Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts when compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Driver’s Ed – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them participate in a local driver’s education class in school.
• Own a Home – Being a homeowner can get you a discount because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
• Bundle and Save – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
• Government Employee Discount – Federal government employees can earn a discount up to 10% on Passat insurance with select insurance companies.
• No Charge for an Accident – This one is not really a discount per se, but certain companies will let one accident slide without raising rates so long as you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.

One last thing about discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though you would think adding up those discounts means a free policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.

Popular car insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts are:

• Progressive may have discounts that include multi-policy, homeowner, online signing, multi-vehicle, online quote discount, and continuous coverage.
• Geico offers discounts for driver training, good student, air bags, defensive driver, anti-theft, and anti-lock brakes.
• State Farm offers premium reductions for good driver, passive restraint, student away at school, multiple autos, good student, and Drive Safe & Save.
• Esurance has savings for safety device, multi-policy, good driver, homeowner, and claim free.
• The Hartford offers discounts including good student, vehicle fuel type, anti-theft, air bag, driver training, and bundle.

Check with every insurance company which discounts they offer. A few discounts may not apply to policies everywhere.

You may need specialized car insurance coverage

When choosing proper insurance coverage, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.

• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in my state?
• Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
• When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
• Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
• What are the best liability limits?
• Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
• Do I need replacement cost coverage?
• Am I covered if I hit my neighbor’s mailbox?
• Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my 2017 Volkswagen Passat is totaled?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Auto insurance coverage information

Having a good grasp of your policy can be of help when determining the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Insurance terms can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverages found on the average insurance policy.

Comprehensive coverages – Comprehensive insurance covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as fire damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane, rock chips in glass, vandalism and damage from flooding. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Coverage for medical payments – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for bills like chiropractic care, ambulance fees, hospital visits and surgery. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto liability – Liability insurance protects you from damage or injury you incur to people or other property. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability insurance covers things like loss of income, medical expenses, court costs, legal defense fees and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Volkswagen Passat.

Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.

Collision – This covers damage to your Passat caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision can pay for claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, driving through your garage door, colliding with a tree and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

Saving money is sweet as honey

As you restructure your insurance plan, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice full coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at the best cost while not skimping on critical coverages.

Cheaper insurance coverage is possible online and also from your neighborhood agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some insurance coverage companies may not provide rate quotes online and these regional insurance providers sell through independent agencies.

Helpful resources

• Electronic Stability Control FAQ (iihs.org)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
• Cellphones, Texting and Driving (iihs.org)
• Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Senior Drivers (Insurance Information Insitute)
• How to Avoid Staged Accidents (State Farm)