Lower Your 1998 Dodge Dakota Insurance Quotes

Searching for better auto insurance rates? Consumers have options when looking for the best price on Dodge Dakota insurance. They can either spend hours struggling with agents trying to get quotes or leverage the internet to get rate quotes.

There are more efficient ways to compare auto insurance rates so you’re going to learn the best way to get price quotes for a Dodge and get the lowest price from both online companies and local agents.

The purpose of this article is to help educate you on how to get online quotes and some tricks to saving. If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using this strategy. Consumers just need to know the best way to compare prices online.

How to Compare Insurance Costs

There are multiple methods to shop for 1998 Dodge Dakota insurance, but some are easier and takes less work. You could waste time talking about coverages with insurance companies in your area, or you could use the internet to maximize your effort.

Many popular insurance companies belong to an insurance system that allows shoppers to enter their policy data once, and every company then returns a price quote. This eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions to each individual insurance company.

To compare pricing click to open in new window.

The only drawback to using this type of system is you are unable to specify the companies you want pricing from. If you would rather choose specific insurance companies to compare, we have a page of low cost insurance companies in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.

However you get your quotes, make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples quote information for each comparison quote. If each company quotes different deductibles it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison.

More discounts equal less premium

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but some must be specially asked for before they will apply. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

  • Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • 55 and Retired – Mature drivers may qualify for better insurance coverage rates for Dakota insurance.
  • Club Memberships – Affiliation with a qualifying organization could trigger savings when buying insurance coverage for Dakota insurance.
  • Paperwork-free – Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy online.
  • Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
  • Student Driver Training – Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver’s ed class in school.
  • Student in College – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.

It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, insurance coverage companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

Insurance companies that possibly offer these benefits are:

Check with each insurance company how you can save money. All car insurance discounts might not be offered everywhere.

It’s not one size fits all

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different.

For example, these questions may help highlight if you could use an agent’s help.

  • How much liability insurance is required?
  • Which is better, split liability limits or combined limits?
  • Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
  • How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
  • Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Parts of the Dodge Dakota rate equation

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces that factor into rates.

  • Where you live can impact rates – Choosing to live in small towns and rural areas can save you money when talking about auto insurance. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Drivers in populated areas have traffic congestion and a longer drive to work. More time commuting means more change of being in an accident.
  • Protect your assets with liability insurance – Liability coverage is the protection if ever you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not cut corners here.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free – Companies provide lower rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance is designed for the large, substantial claims.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive – Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your Dodge from damage. Examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, or theft. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more expense you’re willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive for Dakota insurance.
  • Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Allowing your coverage to lapse will be a fast way to trigger a rate increase. And not only will your rates increase, but not being able to provide proof of insurance will get you a steep fine or even jail time.You may then be required to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department.
  • Marriage brings a discount – Getting married can get you a discount on auto insurance. Having a spouse means you’re more mature and responsible it has been statistically shown that being married results in fewer claims.

Information about specific coverages

Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Collision protection

Collision coverage pays for damage to your Dakota resulting from a collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers things like damaging your car on a curb, rolling your car, crashing into a ditch and colliding with a tree. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and damage to your Dodge Dakota.

Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Usually these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for immediate expenses like ambulance fees, doctor visits, EMT expenses and hospital visits. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Coverage for liability

This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show values of 100/300/100 that means you have $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which combines the three limits into one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage protects against claims such as pain and suffering, structural damage and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Comprehensive auto coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers things like a broken windshield, hail damage, vandalism, damage from a tornado or hurricane and hitting a bird. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

One last thing about your coverage

When shopping online for car insurance, do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped collision coverage only to find out that they should have had better coverage. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

The cheapest 1998 Dodge Dakota insurance is available from both online companies as well as from independent agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some car insurance companies don’t offer online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

You just read many tips how you can get a better price on insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

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