2002 Dodge Dakota Insurance Cost

Expensive auto insurance can dwindle your bank account and put a big crunch on your finances. Comparing price quotes is a great way to lower your monthly bill.

Because there are so many options, it is very difficult to find the lowest cost company.

The purpose of this post is to tell you how to get online quotes. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. But consumers need to learn how big insurance companies price insurance differently and use this information to your advantage.

The quickest way to compare insurance rates in your area is to understand most of the bigger providers actually pay money for the chance to compare rate quotes. All you need to do is take a few minutes to give details including the make and model of your vehicles, driver details, whether you are single or married, and if you require a SR-22. That information is instantly submitted to many highly-rated insurers and they return rate quotes immediately.

To compare rates now, click here and enter your zip code.

Do insurance coverage companies bend the truth?

Insurance coverage providers like Allstate and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. They all make an identical promise of big savings if you switch your policy. How does each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk might be profiled as over the age of 40, has no driving citations, and has great credit. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don’t measure up to the requirements must pay more money which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings.

This illustrates why you absolutely need to get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which insurance coverage company will have the lowest Dodge Dakota insurance rates.

Dodge Dakota rates influenced by many factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that help determine your insurance coverage rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in better insurance coverage rates.

The following are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate premiums.

  • Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are quite a few add-on coverages you can purchase on your insurance coverage policy. Coverages like roadside assistance, better glass coverage and additional equipment coverage may be wasting your money. They may seem good at first, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.
  • Claim-free discounts can add up – If you file claims often, you can look forward to higher rates. Car insurance companies give cheaper rates to people who file claims infrequently. Insurance coverage is intended for larger claims.
  • Older drivers save more – Older insureds are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets. Youthful drivers have a tendency to be more careless when behind the wheel therefore insurance coverage rates are much higher.
  • Rates may be higher depending on your occupation – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for insurance coverage? Occupations like lawyers, business owners and financial analysts have higher average rates attributed to high stress and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like pilots, engineers and homemakers get better rates for Dakota insurance.
  • Do you know you’re credit rating? – Having a bad credit score is a large factor in calculating your insurance coverage rates. So if your credit score is lower than you’d like, you could be paying less to insure your 2002 Dodge Dakota by repairing your credit. Consumers who have excellent credit tend to be less risk to insure than drivers with poor credit.
  • Bundling policies can get discounts – Many companies give discounts to people who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
  • Protect your assets with liability insurance – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage when you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Cautious drivers pay less – Drivers who don’t get tickets get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Even one speeding ticket can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with dangerous tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent a license revocation.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you may find discounts to reduce the price significantly. A few discounts will automatically apply when you get a quote, but a few must be inquired about before they will apply.

  • Claim Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Driver’s Ed – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.
  • Good Student Discount – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
  • Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on the same insurance coverage policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
  • Military Discounts – Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.

It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, insurance coverage companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will cut your premiums.

Insurance companies that possibly offer these money-saving discounts are:

Check with every prospective company what discounts are available to you. Some discounts might not apply in your state.

Everyone needs different coverages

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no cookie cutter policy. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions might point out if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Who is covered when they drive my 2002 Dodge Dakota?
  • What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
  • Does my personal policy cover me when driving out-of-state?
  • How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in my state?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Information about specific coverages

Understanding the coverages of insurance can help you determine the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on the average insurance policy.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other motorists when they 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 carry very low liability coverage limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Collision coverages – Collision insurance covers damage to your Dakota caused by collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for claims like backing into a parked car, damaging your car on a curb, scraping a guard rail and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like fire damage, theft, damage from getting keyed, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and a broken windshield. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Coverage for liability – Liability insurance will cover damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for 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 limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage protects against things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage, legal defense fees, bail bonds and funeral expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but you should buy higher limits if possible.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for expenses for prosthetic devices, EMT expenses, rehabilitation expenses and hospital visits. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Saving money is sweet as honey

Cost effective 2002 Dodge Dakota insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced full coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

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