Cheap 2006 Dodge Stratus Insurance Rates

Trying to find the cheapest auto insurance rates for your Dodge Stratus? Finding lower premiums on auto insurance can be challenging for consumers new to shopping for insurance online. You have so many options available that it can turn into a real hassle to find lower rates.

It’s a good habit to take a look at other company’s rates occasionally because rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Just because you found the best rates for Stratus insurance two years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper deductibles and limits, all at the lowest rate.

The purpose of this article is to let you in on how car insurance quotes work and some tricks to saving. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. But car owners must understand how big insurance companies market insurance on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Compare the Market for Car Insurance

There are a variety of methods to compare 2006 Dodge Stratus car insurance prices and some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance agencies in your area, or you could use the web to achieve your goal.

All the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace that allows shoppers to only type in their quote data once, and every company then returns a price quote determined by their information. This eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for every car insurance company.

To find out how much you can save on car insurance click to open in new window.

The one downside to pricing coverage this way is that consumers can’t choose the providers you want pricing from. So if you prefer to choose individual companies to compare, we put together a list of car insurance companies in your area. Click to view list.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just make darn sure you compare the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you have different limits and deductibles on each one it’s not possible to determine the lowest rate for your Dodge Stratus. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits can make a big difference in price. Keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes gives you a better chance of getting better pricing.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Most are applied when you complete an application, but some must be inquired about prior to getting the savings.

  • Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Payment Method – If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
  • Distant Student – Youth drivers living away from home attending college and don’t have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts up to 30%.
  • Safe Drivers – Safe drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates for Stratus insurance than drivers with accidents.
  • Homeowners Discount – Being a homeowner can help you save on insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

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

Why you might be paying too much to insure your Dodge Stratus

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for insurance coverage. Understanding what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better insurance coverage rates.

Shown below are a few of the “ingredients” companies use to determine your rates.

  • Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – The liability section of your policy is the coverage that protects you if a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
  • Do you work long hours in a high stress job? – Occupations like doctors, executives and stock brokers tend to pay the highest rates due to job stress and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, occupations such as pilots, students and retirees have the lowest average rates for Stratus insurance.
  • How many coverages with the same company – Many insurance companies give discounts to customers who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to 10 percent or more. If you currently are using one company, you still need to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Little extras can really add up – There are many additional coverages that you can buy when buying insurance coverage. Insurance for roadside assistance, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage are some examples. These coverages may sound good when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

Situations that might require an agent

When buying the best insurance coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
  • What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in my state?
  • Should I waive the damage coverage when renting a car?
  • What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
  • Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form.

Coverage specifics

Understanding the coverages of insurance aids in choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Comprehensive coverage – This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from flooding, damage from getting keyed, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and hitting a bird. The most a insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Medical payments coverage and PIP – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for ambulance fees, EMT expenses and chiropractic care. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Collision coverages – Collision coverage covers damage to your Stratus resulting from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for claims such as sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a mailbox, scraping a guard rail and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Dodge Stratus.

Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Auto liability – This protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property that is your fault. It protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a limit of $100,000 per injured person, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which combines the three limits into one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability insurance covers claims such as attorney fees, legal defense fees, medical expenses, bail bonds and medical services. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.

In Summary

As you shop your coverage around, you should never buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford.

Consumers leave their current company for a number of reasons such as lack of trust in their agent, being labeled a high risk driver, denial of a claim and even not issuing a premium refund. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching companies is not as hard as you think.

We just showed you many ways to reduce 2006 Dodge Stratus insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies.

Much more information about auto insurance can be found at these links: