2004 Dodge Stratus Car Insurance Cost – 8 Tips for Cheapest Prices

Looking for the cheapest insurance rates for your Dodge Stratus? Finding affordable insurance can be difficult for consumers new to buying insurance online. People have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to compare prices.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Companies don’t list every available discount very well, so we took the time to find some of the more common and the more hidden auto insurance savings.

  • Defensive Driving Course – Taking a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
  • Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military can result in better rates.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
  • Life Insurance Discount – Larger companies have lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
  • Braking Control Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Save with a New Car – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less on Stratus insurance than their less cautious counterparts.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates, follow this link.

There’s no such thing as the perfect policy

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different.

These are some specific questions may help highlight if you will benefit from professional help.

  • How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
  • Is my teenager covered with friends in the car?
  • What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
  • Am I insured when driving a different vehicle?
  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
  • Should I have a commercial auto policy?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Beware of misleading insurance ads

Insurance companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads in print and on television. They all seem to say the same thing that you’ll save big if you move your policy. How can each company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.

All companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. A good example of a preferred risk might be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and has great credit. A customer who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who don’t meet the requirements must pay more money which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That’s why companies can truthfully state the savings. This illustrates why drivers should compare many company’s rates. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest Dodge Stratus insurance rates.

Car insurance coverages 101

Having a good grasp of a car insurance policy can help you determine appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Car insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Liability

This coverage provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people in an accident. It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability coverage pays for things such as pain and suffering, medical expenses, legal defense fees and bail bonds. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for expenses like doctor visits, surgery and prosthetic devices. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as a broken windshield, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, vandalism, falling objects and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Collision coverage

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 insurance covers claims like rolling your car, driving through your garage door, hitting a mailbox and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Be a money saver!

In this article, we covered some good ideas how to compare 2004 Dodge Stratus insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from some of the lesser-known companies.

People leave their current company for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, denial of a claim, extreme rates for teen drivers or poor customer service. Regardless of your reason, switching auto insurance companies can be easy and end up saving you some money.

Affordable insurance can be sourced from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies do not provide online quoting and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

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