How Much Does 1997 Dodge Stratus Insurance Cost?

Want lower insurance coverage rates for your Dodge Stratus? Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy high-priced insurance coverage? Believe me when I say there are lots of people in the same boat.

Numerous insurance companies battle for your hard-earned dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare car insurance companies and get the definite lowest price

You need to check insurance coverage prices occasionally because rates change regularly. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price for Stratus insurance two years ago you can probably find a better price now. Starting right now, block out anything you think you know about insurance coverage because we’re going to show you the only way to find lower rates on insurance coverage.

Car Insurance Prices

Shopping for lower car insurance rates can be exhausting if you aren’t aware of the most efficient way. You could spend the better part of a day driving to agents in your area, or you could save time and use online quoting to achieve your goal.

Most car insurance companies are enrolled in a marketplace where prospective buyers send in one quote, and at least one company returns a rated price determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions to each individual car insurance company.

To find out how much you can save on car insurance click here (opens in new window).

The one downside to using this type of system is you cannot specify which providers you want to price. So if you want to select specific insurance companies to receive pricing from, we have a page of low cost car insurance companies in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples coverage information with every price quote. If your comparisons have different liability limits then you won’t be able to truly determine the lowest rate. Quoting even small variations in limits may cause a big price difference. Just remember that having more price comparisons will enable you to find the best offered rates.

These discounts can lower your rates

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Some trigger automatically at the time of quoting, but some must be specifically requested in order for you to get them.

  • Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing on their website.
  • Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may save up to 50% more for Stratus insurance than drivers with accident claims.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
  • Safety Course Discount – Successfully completing a driver safety course could save 5% or more if you qualify.
  • College Student – Kids in college living away from home attending college without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.
  • Seat Belts Save – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

To see a list of insurers with the best car insurance discounts, follow this link.

Different people need different coverages

When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • What happens if I owe more than my 1997 Dodge Stratus is worth?
  • Is my ex-spouse still covered by my policy?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
  • How do I insure my teen driver?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Why your Dodge Stratus insurance rates may be high

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for insurance coverage. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to lower insurance coverage prices.

  • One company can mean more discounts – Most insurers give discounts to policyholders who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you may still want to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Small claims can cost you – Car insurance companies give lower rates to people who do not file claims often. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for larger claims.
  • Older drivers save more – Mature drivers are more responsible, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets. Youthful drivers have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted in a vehicle therefore insurance coverage rates are much higher.
  • A clean driving record saves money – Whether or not you get tickets impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Only having one citation can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Drivers with serious tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
  • Do you work long hours in a high stress job? – Jobs such as doctors, architects and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average attributed to high stress levels and long work days. On the flip side, professions such as scientists, athletes and the unemployed pay the least for Stratus insurance.
  • Where you reside plays a part – Being located in less populated areas has it’s advantages when insuring your vehicles. Fewer people means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers who live in large cities regularly have congested traffic and much longer commute distances. Higher commute times means higher likelihood of an accident.

Specific coverage details

Knowing the specifics of your insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are typical coverages found on the average insurance policy.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as hitting a deer, a broken windshield, hitting a bird, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

UM/UIM Coverage

Your UM/UIM 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 hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Medical costs insurance

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for expenses for things like dental work, ambulance fees and funeral costs. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Collision protection

Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as colliding with a tree, scraping a guard rail, colliding with another moving vehicle and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Liability car insurance

Liability insurance protects you from damage that occurs to people or other property in an accident. It protects you from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage protects against things like repair costs for stationary objects, emergency aid, loss of income and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.

A penny earned…

When trying to cut insurance costs, don’t be tempted to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

Cheap 1997 Dodge Stratus insurance is definitely available from both online companies as well as from independent agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

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