2008 Volkswagen Passat Insurance Quotes – 10 Policy Discounts

Looking for cheaper auto insurance rates for your Volkswagen Passat? Insurance shopping is not a task drivers appreciate, but it’s mandatory before you can legally be on the road.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but a few need to be specifically requested before they will apply.

  • Military Rewards – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
  • College Student – Youth drivers who live away from home without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Low Mileage – Driving fewer miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Multi-car Discount – Having more than one vehicle on the same car insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Early Switch Discount – Some companies give discounts for signing up before your current expiration date. It’s a savings of about 10%.
  • Discounts for Safe Drivers – Safe drivers may receive a discount up to 45% less on Passat coverage than drivers with accident claims.
  • Student Driver Training – Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course in high school.
  • One Accident Forgiven – Certain companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a set time period.
  • Discount for Good Grades – A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
  • Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.

Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck. But all discounts will reduce your premiums.

To see a list of insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts, click here.

Situations that might require an agent

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Every insured’s situation is different.

For example, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.

  • How do I insure my teen driver?
  • Does my personal policy cover me when driving out-of-state?
  • How does medical payments coverage work?
  • Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
  • Will filing a claim cost me more?
  • Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
  • How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
  • Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?

If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

Advertising myths

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm consistently run ads in print and on television. They all seem to have a common claim that you’ll save big if you change your coverage to them. How do they all say the same thing?

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will have to pay higher premiums which leads to business not being written. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, drivers must quote coverage with many companies. You cannot predict the company that will have the lowest Volkswagen Passat insurance rates.

The coverage is in the details

Knowing the specifics of insurance can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.

Collision – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision insurance covers claims such as damaging your car on a curb, scraping a guard rail, crashing into a building, sustaining damage from a pot hole and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Coverage for liability – Liability insurance protects you from damage that occurs to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects YOU against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for 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. You might see limits of 50/100/50 which means a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $50,000. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage protects against things like structural damage, bail bonds and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but buy higher limits if possible.

Coverage for medical expenses – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for immediate expenses for rehabilitation expenses, chiropractic care, hospital visits and prosthetic devices. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Volkswagen Passat.

Due to the fact that many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Comprehensive insurance – This covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like theft, hitting a deer and falling objects. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Coverage on a shoestring budget

Cheaper 2008 Volkswagen Passat insurance is attainable both online and also from your neighborhood agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies may not provide online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

You just read a lot of ways to lower your insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier.

Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, high prices, not issuing a premium refund and even policy cancellation. Whatever your reason, finding a great new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

More information can be found at the links below