1996 Volkswagen Passat Car Insurance Rates – 10 Tips for Best Quotes

Have you had enough of being strong-armed to pay your car insurance bill each month? You’re in the same situation as the majority of other car owners. Because you have many options, it is very difficult to choose the most affordable company.

It’s important to check insurance prices once or twice a year because rates are variable and change quite frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates for Passat coverage two years ago a different company probably has better rates today. So ignore everything you know about insurance because you’re about to learn the quickest way to find lower rates on insurance.

Choosing the best insurance company for you is not that difficult. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to save some money using this strategy. Drivers only need to know the most efficient way to get comparison rates over the internet.

The fastest way that we advise to compare car insurance company rates is to realize car insurance companies have advanced systems to provide you with free rate quotes. The only thing you need to do is provide a small amount of information like driver details, if you’re married, deductibles desired, and if you are currently licensed. Your insurance information is submitted instantly to multiple insurance coverage providers and you should receive rate quotes immediately.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Consumers constantly see and hear ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you move to them.

How can each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver they prefer to insure. For example, a profitable customer could be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and has a high credit rating. A driver who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who don’t meet the requirements must pay a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently make those claims. This illustrates why it is so important to get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which company will have the lowest Volkswagen Passat insurance rates.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

  • Drive Less and Save – Fewer annual miles on your Volkswagen could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
  • More Vehicles More Savings – Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
  • Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
  • Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
  • Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home can save you money because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
  • E-sign – A few companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like you could get a free insurance coverage policy, you’re out of luck.

Companies who might offer some of the above discounts may include but are not limited to:

It’s a good idea to ask each insurance company what discounts are available to you. Some discounts might not be offered in your area.

Everyone needs different coverages

When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

  • What is the ISO rating for a 1996 Volkswagen Passat?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
  • Why do I need rental car insurance?
  • When should I buy a commercial auto policy?
  • Will filing a claim cost me more?
  • Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
  • I don’t drive much so do I pay less?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Insurance policy specifics

Knowing the specifics of insurance aids in choosing the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are typical coverages available from insurance companies.

Liability coverage

This coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people in an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see values of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as medical services, structural damage, bail bonds, pain and suffering and emergency aid. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but buy as much as you can afford.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills such as prosthetic devices, X-ray expenses and ambulance fees. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers all vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Volkswagen Passat.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.

Comprehensive coverage

This coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hail damage, damage from flooding, rock chips in glass and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The most your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Collision coverage protection

Collision coverage pays for damage to your Passat caused by collision with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers claims like sustaining damage from a pot hole, colliding with another moving vehicle and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Have money to burn

As you restructure your insurance plan, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Lower-priced 1996 Volkswagen Passat insurance is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. Some companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

More tips and info about auto insurance is located in the articles below: