Cheap 2009 MINI Cooper Car Insurance Cost

Have you had enough of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You’re in the same situation as most other car owners.

There is such a variety of car insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and although it’s nice to have multiple companies, it makes it harder to get the best deal.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs

There are several ways to shop for MINI Cooper auto insurance, but there is one way that is more efficient than others. You can waste hours talking to insurance agencies in your area, or you can stay home and use online quotes to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most major companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to enter their coverage request one time, and every company then gives them pricing for coverage. This eliminates the need for quote forms to each individual auto insurance company.

To participate in this free quote system, click here to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to pricing coverage this way is you are unable to specify the insurers you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose individual companies to receive pricing from, we have a page of auto insurance companies in your area. View list of insurance companies.

It’s up to you which method you use, but be sure to compare apples-to-apples quote information for each price quote. If the quotes have higher or lower deductibles it will be very difficult to truly determine the lowest rate. Slightly different coverage limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing more company’s prices will increase your chances of finding a lower rate.

Complexity of MINI Cooper insurance rates

It’s important that you understand the factors that come into play when calculating your insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine your rates.

  • Better crash test results mean better rates – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars reduce injuries and better occupant protection means less money paid by your insurance company passed on to you as lower rates. If your MINI Cooper is rated at least four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org it is probably cheaper to insure.
  • Your location is important – Residing in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when talking about insurance. Urban drivers have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate.
  • Drive less and save money – The more you drive every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Having the wrong rating on your Cooper can result in significantly higher rates. Make sure your insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage.
  • Frequent insurance claims increase rates – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect higher rates. Auto insurance companies generally give cheaper rates to policyholders who are claim-free. Insurance coverage is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Multiple policies with one company can save – Some companies provide better rates to customers who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s in your best interest to shop around to verify if the discount is saving money. Drivers may still find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
  • Special features that cut premiums – Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Men fork out a little more – Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. Now that doesn’t mean men are WORSE drivers than women. They both tend to get into accidents at a similar rate, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Protect your assets with liability insurance – Your policy’s liability coverage will protect you in the event that a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but a few need to be asked for prior to receiving the credit.

  • Driver Safety – Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more depending on where you live.
  • E-sign – Some insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy online.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Low mileage vehicles could qualify for better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.
  • Distant Student – Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.

It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

To see a list of insurance companies who offer insurance discounts, click this link.

When might I need an agent?

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help highlight if you could use an agent’s help.

  • Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
  • Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
  • How high should my medical payments coverage be?
  • Which is better, split liability limits or combined limits?
  • What is the minimum liability in my state?
  • Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in my state?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area.

Insurance coverage basics

Understanding the coverages of your insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are the normal coverages available from insurance companies.

Medical expense coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills like dental work, nursing services, rehabilitation expenses, ambulance fees and X-ray expenses. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays for damage to your Cooper resulting from colliding with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against things like crashing into a ditch, hitting a mailbox, sideswiping another vehicle and crashing into a building. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Liability coverage – Liability coverage provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to people or other property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability can pay for claims such as medical expenses, legal defense fees, loss of income and funeral expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Comprehensive protection – This covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like a broken windshield, hitting a deer, vandalism and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

In any little way, save everyday

We just presented some good ideas how to save on 2009 MINI Cooper insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even find the lowest premiums are with the least-expected company. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like Geico and State Farm.

When trying to cut insurance costs, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to discover later that it was a big mistake. The aim is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

For more information, link through to the articles below: