Best Ways to Save on Dallas Dodge Caliber Insurance

Really, the only way to get low-cost car insurance rates in Dallas is to regularly compare quotes from insurance carriers in Texas. You can shop around by following these guidelines.

Step 1: Gain an understanding of how auto insurance works and the things you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many factors that cause rate increases such as high-risk driving behaviors and a substandard credit history can be remedied by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.

Step 2: Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can quote prices from many different companies. Start a quote

Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium and determine if there is any savings. If you can save some money and buy the policy, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.

Step 4: Notify your agent or company to cancel the current policy and submit the required down payment along with the signed application to your new insurance company. Don’t forget to keep your new certificate of insurance in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.

The critical component of shopping around is to try to use the same level of coverage on every price quote and and to get price quotes from every insurance company. Doing this helps ensure an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete price analysis.

It’s a known fact that insurance companies don’t want you to look for cheaper rates. Insureds who get comparison quotes at least once a year are inclined to move their business because the odds are good of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. A recent survey revealed that consumers who compared price quotes annually saved over $3,450 over four years as compared to drivers who never shopped around.

If finding low prices for Dodge Caliber insurance in Dallas is your objective, then having a good understanding how to quote and compare auto insurance can help you succeed in saving money.

Data for Dodge Caliber insurance

The price information displayed next covers detailed analysis of insurance premium costs for Dodge Caliber models. Having a better understanding of how policy rates are calculated can benefit drivers when making smart choices when purchasing an auto insurance policy.

Data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, and claim-free. Rate quotes do not factor in garaging location in Dallas which can raise or lower insurance rates greatly.

Raise deductibles and save

When shopping for insurance, a common question is how low should you set your deductibles. The data tables below sum up how much more you’ll pay when you select higher and lower coverage deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and homeowner. Rates do not factor in Dallas location which can revise price quotes substantially.

Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $250 deductible costs an average of $26 more each month or $312 a year than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average at least 29 months between claims, you would probably come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible.

The information below shows how choosing a deductible and can raise or lower Dodge Caliber yearly insurance costs for different age groups. The prices are based on a married female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Does full coverage make sense?

The illustration below shows the difference between Dodge Caliber annual premium costs with and without physical damage coverage. The information is based on no accidents, no driving violations, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Should you pay for full coverage or liability only?

There is no definitive formula that works best for making the decision to drop full coverage, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Dodge Caliber replacement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $7,000 after paying your policy deductible. If you are currently paying more than $700 a year to have full coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

There are some conditions where eliminating full coverage is not advised. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not remove full coverage.

Why Smart Buyers Pay Less for Dodge Caliber Insurance

Many different elements are used when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving record, although others are less obvious such as your marital status and annual miles driven.

• Occupation reflects on premiums – Careers like military generals, business owners, and medical professionals generally have higher average rates attributed to intense work-related stress and long work days. On the flip side, professions such as farmers, engineers and the unemployed receive lower rates.
• Liability protection limits are a factor – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance will protect you if ever you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
• Be proud to be claim-free – Auto insurance companies in Texas award the lowest premiums to drivers who do not file claims often. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance is intended for larger claims.

• Accidents can be expensive – Having a single speeding ticket can increase rates substantially. Good drivers pay less for auto insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers with severe citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to maintain a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.

  The information below demonstrates how citations and at-fault fender-benders can influence Dodge Caliber annual premium costs for different age groups of insureds. The premium estimates are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.

• Do safer cars cost less to insure? – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. Vehicles engineered for safety result in less severe injuries and reduced instances of injuries translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders. If your Dodge Caliber scored at minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website it may cost less to insure.
• Single vs. married – Walking down the aisle can get you a discount when shopping for insurance. Marriage usually means you are more mature and responsible and statistics prove married drivers tend to file fewer claims.

Final considerations

People change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, delays in responding to claim requests, high prices and policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching auto insurance companies is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

As you restructure your insurance plan, never buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to regret they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at the best cost while not skimping on critical coverages.

Some insurance companies may not have online rate quotes and many times these regional carriers work with independent insurance agencies. More affordable auto insurance in Dallas can be sourced on the web as well as from independent agents in Dallas, so compare prices from both in order to have the best chance of saving money.

More information is available at these links:

• When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)
• How Much is Dallas Auto Insurance for State Employees? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Hyundai Sonata in Dallas? (FAQ)
• Collision Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
• Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)