2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Car Insurance Rates

Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us, there are many people just like you.

You have multiple insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and though it is a good thing to have a choice, it can be more difficult to find the best rates for your vehicles.

Chrysler PT Cruiser rates are in the details

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that help determine your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates enables informed choices that can help you get big savings.

The following are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

  • Drive a safer car and pay less – Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars protect occupants better and lower injury rates means less money paid by your insurance company and thus lower rates. If your Chrysler PT Cruiser is rated at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website you may qualify for a discount.
  • More people means more accidents – Being located in small towns and rural areas has it’s advantages when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents. Drivers who live in large cities have to deal with congested traffic and a longer drive to work. More time on the road means more change of being in an accident.
  • Bad driving skills means higher rates – A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even one ticket can increase rates twenty percent or more. Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. If you have serious violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
  • Marriage brings a discount – Getting married actually saves money on auto insurance. Having a significant other usually means you are more responsible it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Driving with no insurance is against the law and auto insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage lapse. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage may earn you a license revocation or jail time.
  • How your age affects price – Older insureds are more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Young drivers have a tendency to get distracted easily when behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • How many coverages with the same company – Some companies will award you with lower prices to people who consolidate policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. 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 other company rates to ensure the best deal.
  • Increase deductibles and save – The deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. 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 are colliding with a building, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive for PT Cruiser insurance.

Insurance Coverage Comparisons

There are several ways to compare quotes and find the best price. The best method to find the lowest 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser rates consists of shopping online. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

  1. One of the best ways consumers can make multiple comparisons is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This form keeps you from doing multiple quote forms for every insurance coverage company. A single form gets you coverage quotes from all major companies.
  2. A less efficient way to shop for insurance coverage online is spending the time to visit the website for each individual company to request a price quote. For instance, let’s say you want rates from Liberty Mutual, Farmers and Allstate. To find out each rate you need to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular.

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

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make sure you use apples-to-apples coverage limits on every quote you get. If each company quotes different deductibles it’s impossible to determine the best price for your Chrysler PT Cruiser. Having just a slight variation in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when comparison shopping, having more price comparisons gives you a better chance of getting a better price.

Misconceptions in insurance advertisements

Companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the ads make the same claim that you’ll save big if you move to their company. How does each company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that makes them money. For instance, a preferred risk could possibly be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A customer who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Consumers who don’t meet this ideal profile will be charged higher premiums and ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. That is why you need to compare many company’s rates. You cannot predict which insurance companies will have the lowest Chrysler PT Cruiser insurance rates.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies don’t necessarily list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the more common as well as the least known ways to save on insurance.

  • Anti-lock Brake Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
  • No Charge for an Accident – Some insurance companies allow you one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a set time period.
  • Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give a break if you buy life insurance.
  • Discount for New Cars – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
  • Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn’t work that way.

Companies that may offer these money-saving discounts include:

Before buying, ask each company which discounts you may be entitled to. Discounts may not be available in your state.

How much car insurance do I need?

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • Do I need higher collision deductibles?
  • Is my Chrysler PT Cruiser covered if I use it for business?
  • Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
  • Are my friends covered when driving my 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
  • What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
  • What is the rate difference between pleasure use and commuting?
  • What happens if I owe more than my 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser is worth?
  • Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?

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. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

The coverage is in the details

Understanding the coverages of your policy can help you determine which coverages you need for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the normal coverages offered by insurance companies.

Medical costs insurance

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for expenses for EMT expenses, nursing services, rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits and ambulance fees. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Liability coverages

This can cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people. 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. Your policy might show liability limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as medical services, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and repair costs for stationary objects. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.

UM/UIM Coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Auto collision coverage

Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision can pay for claims such as backing into a parked car, hitting a mailbox and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as vandalism, a broken windshield and theft. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Be a smart shopper

In this article, we covered many tips how you can shop for 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than their larger competitors like Progressive or GEICO.

Lower-priced insurance is definitely available from both online companies as well as from independent agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who don’t offer online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

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