1998 Dodge Caravan Insurance Rates

Using the web to shop for insurance coverage can be difficult if you have never used online rate quotes. Don’t let that stop you because using the internet to shop for insurance coverage is actually quite easy.

Choosing the best insurance company for you is quite easy. If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to save some money using these methods. Nevertheless, consumers can benefit by having an understanding of how companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.

How to Get Car Insurance Comparison Quotes

There are several ways to get quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The easiest way by far to find the cheapest 1998 Dodge Caravan insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

  1. The fastest way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This type of form eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for every car insurance company. One simple form gets you price quotes from car insurance companies with the best prices. This is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time.
  2. A less efficient way to get comparison quotes is to manually visit each company’s website to complete a price quote. For examples sake, we’ll pretend you want comparison quotes from USAA, Allstate and American Family. To get each rate you have to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method.

    For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.

  3. The most time-consuming method of getting rate comparisons is to spend time driving to local insurance agencies. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the professional guidance of a licensed agent. It is possible to obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent.

It’s up to you which method you use, but make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples deductibles and coverage limits with every price quote. If your comparisons have different limits and deductibles on each one you will not be able to truly determine the lowest rate. Just a small difference in limits could mean much higher rates. Just remember that comparing more company’s prices helps locate the best offered rates.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance do not list all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the best known and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance.

  • 55 and Retired – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for better car insurance rates for Caravan coverage.
  • Accident Waiver – A handful of insurance companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
  • Resident Student – Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
  • No Claims – Drivers who don’t have accidents can save substantially when compared with accident-prone drivers.
  • Employee of Federal Government – Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% for Caravan coverage with select insurance companies.
  • Good Students Pay Less – Getting good grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
  • Student Driver Training – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
  • Use Seat Belts – Drivers who require all occupants to use their safety belts can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky.

To see a list of insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts, click here.

When might I need an agent?

When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

For example, these questions could help you determine if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • I have health insurance so do I need medical payments coverage?
  • What is medical payments coverage?
  • How can I force my company to pay a claim?
  • Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
  • Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form.

Dodge Caravan rate determination is complex

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for insurance coverage. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that could result in lower insurance coverage prices.

The list below includes some of the factors that factor into premiums.

  • How many coverages with the same company – The majority of insurance companies give discounts to customers who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to 10 percent or more. Even with this discount, you may still want to compare rates to ensure the best deal. Consumers may find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
  • A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Not having insurance is against the law and as a result your rates will increase for letting your insurance lapse. And not only will your rates increase, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a steep fine or even jail time.You may have to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with your state DMV.
  • Extra coverages can waste money – There are many additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t careful. Things like rental car reimbursement, accidental death and term life insurance are some examples. They may seem good when talking to your agent, but if they’re wasting money remove them from your policy.
  • Drive a safer car and pay less – Safer cars get lower rates. The safest vehicles reduce injuries and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates. If the Dodge Caravan earned at least four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org you are probably receiving a discount.
  • Pay less after the wedding – Getting married actually saves money on insurance coverage. Marriage translates into being more mature and it’s proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Increase deductibles and save – Physical damage deductibles define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and burglary. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive for Caravan coverage.

Save $482 a year. For real?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the ads make an identical promise that you can save if you move to them. How can each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as between 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. A driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will save a lot of money.

Consumers who do not match the requirements must pay higher rates and ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. This illustrates why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know the company that will provide you with the cheapest Dodge Caravan insurance rates.

What insurance coverages do you need?

Knowing the specifics of your policy helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Liability insurance

Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability can pay for things such as pain and suffering, attorney fees and structural damage. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but buy as large an amount as possible.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Comprehensive coverage

This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as falling objects, vandalism, fire damage, damage from flooding and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for immediate expenses for dental work, nursing services, ambulance fees and prosthetic devices. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Collision insurance

Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Caravan from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for things such as crashing into a ditch, colliding with a tree, rolling your car and backing into a parked car. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

One last thing

Drivers switch companies for a number of reasons such as high prices, lack of trust in their agent, poor customer service or even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching companies can be pretty painless.

We covered a lot of tips how to shop for 1998 Dodge Caravan insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even find the lowest priced insurance coverage comes from a small mutual company.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where someone dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

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