Cheap 2003 Dodge Stratus Insurance Rates

Searching for lower auto insurance rates for your Dodge Stratus? Have you fallen victim to high-priced auto insurance? Trust us, there are a lot of people just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy.

Consumers have many insurance companies to pick from, and even though it’s nice to have a choice, it makes it harder to get the best deal.

It’s a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates periodically due to the fact that insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you had the best rates for Stratus coverage a year ago you may be paying too much now. So just ignore everything you know about auto insurance because it’s time to teach you the best way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

This article will help educate you on how car insurance quotes work and some tricks to saving. If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. Nevertheless, vehicle owners do need to understand the methods companies use to sell insurance online.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs

Most major insurance companies provide prices for coverage online. Getting online rates is quite simple as you just enter the coverages you want into the quote form. After you submit the form the system makes automated requests for information on your driving record and credit history and provides a quote. This helps simplify price comparisons, but having to visit a lot of sites and type in the same information gets old quite quickly. But it’s very important to get many rate quotes in order to find better prices.

An easier way to find cheaper rates uses one simple form that obtains quotes from multiple companies. This type of form saves time, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes quoting online much more enjoyable and efficient. After sending the form, your coverage is rated and you can choose any of the resulting price quotes.

If you find a better price it’s easy to complete the application and purchase coverage. This process takes just a few minutes to complete and could lower your rates considerably.

To find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in a new tab and fill out the form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you replicate your coverages exactly as shown on your declarations page. Doing this guarantees you will have a fair comparison for the exact same coverage.

Cut your premium with discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before you will receive the discount.

  • Senior Citizens – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better insurance coverage rates for Stratus coverage.
  • Federal Government Employee – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off for Stratus coverage with a few insurance coverage companies.
  • Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Keeping the miles down on your Dodge could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles on the same insurance coverage policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Student in College – Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.
  • Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may save up to 50% more for Stratus coverage than their less cautious counterparts.
  • Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.
  • Clubs and Organizations – Affiliation with certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on your policy for Stratus coverage.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free insurance coverage policy, companies don’t profit that way. But any discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

For a list of insurance companies with the best insurance coverage discounts, click here.

Dodge Stratus rates are complex

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for insurance. Understanding what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get big savings.

The following are some of the factors used by your company to calculate your rates.

  • Never allow your policy to lapse – Driving your car without having proper coverage is against the law and insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage lapse. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free – If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Companies award discounts to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Insurance coverage is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Lower miles equals lower premium – The higher the mileage driven each year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles that are left in the garage get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle. Incorrect usage on your Stratus can result in significantly higher rates.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money – Many companies will give a discount to customers who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. If you currently are using one company, you may still want to compare rates to ensure the best deal. You may still find a better deal by buying insurance from a different company.
  • A clean driving record saves money – Drivers who don’t get tickets get better rates than bad drivers. Even a single moving violation can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers with serious tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
  • Little extras can really add up – There are a ton of add-on coverages that can waste your money if you aren’t careful. Coverages for roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment initially, but if you don’t need them eliminate them to save money.
  • Sex matters – Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. Now that doesn’t mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men have accidents at a similar rate, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also get cited for more serious violations such as reckless driving.

What is the best insurance coverage?

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether or not you might need professional guidance.

  • Can I rent a car in Mexico?
  • Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
  • What discounts do I qualify for?
  • How does medical payments coverage work?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount?
  • Is my camper covered by my car insurance policy?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of insurance coverage companies in your area.

Car insurance policy specifics

Learning about specific coverages of your policy can help you determine the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Car insurance terms can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. These are the usual coverages offered by car insurance companies.

Comprehensive coverages

This coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as vandalism, damage from flooding, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and theft. The maximum amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Coverage for medical payments

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for immediate expenses like dental work, prosthetic devices, EMT expenses, nursing services and ambulance fees. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover both the driver and occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Liability auto insurance

Liability insurance protects you from damage that occurs to other people or property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you from claims by other people. It does not 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 limits of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability insurance covers things like pain and suffering, court costs and legal defense fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but you should buy as much as you can afford.

Collision coverage protection

Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Stratus caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as sideswiping another vehicle, rolling your car, sustaining damage from a pot hole, hitting a parking meter and scraping a guard rail. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Be a Smart Shopper

Cheap 2003 Dodge Stratus insurance can be found from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

For more information, feel free to browse these articles: