Compare 2005 Dodge Stratus Insurance Rates

Want cheaper auto insurance rates for your Dodge Stratus? People new to comparison shopping online could find purchasing the lowest-priced auto insurance quite challenging.

Consumers should take time to compare prices occasionally because prices are variable and change quite frequently. Even if you think you had the lowest rates for Stratus insurance a year ago you may be paying too much now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the best way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

How to Buy Insurance Coverage Online

When shopping for insurance coverage there are multiple ways of comparing rate quotes and find the best price. The simplest method to compare 2005 Dodge Stratus insurance prices is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be done using a couple different methods.

  1. The first (and easiest) way to find low rates would be an industry-wide quote request form click to view form in new window. This method prevents you from having to do separate quote forms for each company. Just one form will return price quotes from multiple companies. This is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time.
  2. Another way to find lower rates is going to the website for every company you want to comare to request a price quote. For examples sake, let’s assume you want comparison quotes from Progressive, Allstate and Geico. To get each rate you have to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why most consumers use the first method.

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

It’s up to you which method you use, but make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples information for every company. If you have differing limits it will be next to impossible to find the best deal for your Dodge Stratus. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages can result in a big premium difference. Just keep in mind that having more price comparisons will increase your chances of finding better pricing.

Pay less by taking advantage of discounts

Car insurance companies don’t always publicize every discount very well, so the following is a list of both the well known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

  • Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
  • Drive Less and Save – Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have a discount if you purchase life insurance.
  • No Charge for an Accident – Certain companies allow you one accident before your rates go up so long as you haven’t had any claims for a set time period.
  • Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
  • Seat Belts Save – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off your medical payments premium.
  • Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts up to 30%.
  • Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents may save up to 50% more for Stratus insurance than drivers with accident claims.
  • Student Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver’s education if it’s offered in school.

It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you’re out of luck.

Insurance companies that may offer some of the above discounts include:

Double check with every prospective company which discounts they offer. Savings may not apply everywhere.

Your coverage should be tailored to you

When it comes to choosing coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

For instance, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
  • Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
  • Where can I get insurance after a DUI in my state?
  • Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.

Dodge Stratus insurance rates are influenced by…

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that go into determining insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better insurance rates.

  • Discounts for married couples – Getting married helps lower the price when buying insurance. Having a significant other means you’re more mature and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive – Your deductibles define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and windstorm damage. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive for Stratus insurance.
  • Your credit rating is important – A driver’s credit score is a large factor in determining your rates. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower credit scores. Therefore, if your credit rating is low, you could save money insuring your 2005 Dodge Stratus by improving your credit score.
  • More miles equals more premium – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies price each vehicle’s coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars that are left in the garage can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Having the wrong rating on your Stratus can result in significantly higher rates. Verify your insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
  • Older drivers pay less – Older drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets. Teenage drivers have a tendency to be more careless behind the wheel and because of this, their insurance rates are much higher.
  • Your insurance rates can be influenced by your job – Occupations like lawyers, executives and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates in part from job stress and lots of time spent at work. Other occupations such as pilots, historians and retirees have the lowest average rates for Stratus insurance.
  • High crash test scores lower rates – Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts passed on to you as lower rates. If your Dodge Stratus scored better than four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org you may qualify for a discount.

Save $407 a year. For real?

Car insurance providers like Allstate and Progressive regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all have a common claim of big savings if you move to their company. How can each company say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.

All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that is profitable for them. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be between 30 and 50, owns a home, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who matches those parameters will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who fall outside the requirements will be charged a higher premium and ends up with business not being written. The ads say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. That is why it’s extremely important to quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict which company will have the lowest Dodge Stratus insurance rates.

Coverages available on your policy

Learning about specific coverages of a insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Auto liability

Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for claims like medical expenses, bail bonds and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but buy higher limits if possible.

Coverage for medical payments

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for things like ambulance fees, surgery, dental work and rehabilitation expenses. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

This gives you protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Dodge Stratus.

Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Comprehensive coverages

This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims like hitting a deer, hail damage, falling objects and fire damage. The highest amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Collision coverage protection

Collision insurance pays for damage to your Stratus from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for things such as scraping a guard rail, hitting a mailbox and backing into a parked car. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Knowledge is power

Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including delays in paying claims, not issuing a premium refund, questionable increases in premium and even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a great new company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

Budget-conscious 2005 Dodge Stratus insurance can be purchased both online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you shop your coverage around, don’t be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to regret they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

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