2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Insurance Cost

Searching for lower car insurance rates for your GMC Sierra 1500? Are you confused by the crazy number of car insurance options? Many other consumers are too. People have so many options available that it can easily become a challenge to compare prices.

Consumers should take time to get comparison quotes quite often due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price on Sierra coverage a year ago there may be better deals available now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding car insurance on the web, but with this article, you’re going to get some great ways to put money back in your pocket.

Finding the best rates is easy if you know what you’re doing. Just about everyone who buys insurance should be able to find better rates. But vehicle owners do need to understand the way companies price insurance differently and take advantage of how the system works.

Some factors that can determine what GMC Sierra 1500 insurance costs

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining the rates you pay for insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that could result in big savings.

  • Sex matters – Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and therefore have the most expensive insurance rates.
  • High numbers of claims are not good – If you are a frequent claim filer, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies provide discounts to people who do not file claims often. Car insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are a lot of add-on coverages that can waste your money when buying insurance. Things like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage are some examples. These may sound like a good investment at first, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive – The deductibles define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and rolling your vehicle. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive on Sierra coverage.
  • Your occupation can affect rates – Occupations like doctors, architects and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average attributed to high stress levels and long work hours. On the flip side, jobs such as actors, athletes and retirees have the lowest average rates on Sierra coverage.
  • Bundling policies can get discounts – Most companies provide better rates to customers who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s still a good idea to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
  • Your location is important – Living in small towns and rural areas can save you money when it comes to insurance. Drivers in populated areas have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.

Discounts are great for lower rates

Companies don’t always list every available discount very clearly, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

  • Discounts for Safe Drivers – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more on Sierra coverage than drivers with accidents.
  • Employee of Federal Government – Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% on Sierra coverage with select insurance companies.
  • Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • College Student – Youth drivers living away from home attending college and don’t have a car can receive lower rates.
  • One Accident Forgiven – A handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident without raising rates as long as you don’t have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
  • Student Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver’s education in school.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving fewer miles can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky.

To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts, click here.

You may need specialized coverage

When buying the right insurance coverage, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is unique.

For instance, these questions can help discover if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • How does medical payments coverage work?
  • If I drive on a suspended license am I covered?
  • Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
  • Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
  • When should I remove comp and collision on my 2011 GMC Sierra 1500?
  • Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
  • Should I rate my 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 as pleasure use or commute?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.

Insurance policy specifics

Knowing the specifics of insurance can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Auto liability – Liability insurance will cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property. It protects you against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see limits of 100/300/100 which means a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000.

Liability coverage pays for claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, legal defense fees and court costs. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but buy higher limits if possible.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your GMC Sierra 1500.

Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.

Comprehensive protection – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as hitting a bird, falling objects, a broken windshield and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Medical expense coverage – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for bills like X-ray expenses, EMT expenses, chiropractic care, funeral costs and nursing services. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. They cover you and your occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Collision coverage – This coverage covers damage to your Sierra 1500 resulting from a collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, colliding with another moving vehicle, sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with a tree and hitting a parking meter. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Better coverage you can count on

People who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as extreme rates for teen drivers, denial of a claim, policy non-renewal or even high rates after DUI convictions. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be easier than you think.

In this article, we covered a lot of ways to get a better price on 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 insurance. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from a smaller regional carrier.

Affordable insurance is possible on the web in addition to many insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. A few companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

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