Cheap 2017 Dodge Journey Car Insurance Rates

Nobody I know gets a kick out of paying for car insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high.

Lots of insurance companies contend for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates to discover the definitive best rates possible.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. Finding the best rates is not rocket science. Although consumers need to have an understanding of how big insurance companies market insurance on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Lower your insurance rates

Multiple criteria are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. A few of the factors are predictable like an MVR report, but other criteria are more transparent like your continuous coverage or how financially stable you are.

  • Car insurance liability coverage limits – Liability coverage will protect you if ever you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. Your liability coverage provides legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. It is affordable coverage compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so insureds should have plenty of protection for their assets.
  • Gender and insurance rates – Statistics show females are less aggressive when driving. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. They both cause at-fault accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species have accidents that have higher claims. Not only that, but men also receive more major tickets like DUI and reckless driving.
  • Bad credit hurts insurance rates – Having a bad credit score can be a huge factor in calculating your car insurance rates. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with lower ratings. Therefore, if your credit history can be improved, you may save money insuring your 2017 Dodge Journey by improving your rating.
  • Long commutes cost more – The higher the mileage driven every year the higher the price you pay to insure it. Almost all companies calculate prices based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. It’s always a good idea to double check that your car insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle. Incorrect rating for your Journey can cost quite a bit.
  • Urban areas may pay more – Living in less populated areas of the country is a good thing when trying to find low car insurance rates. Lower population means a lower chance of having an accident and lower theft and vandalism rates. People in densly populated areas have to deal with congested traffic and much longer commute distances. More time commuting statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.

How to buy auto insurance

To get cheap insurance coverage quotes, there a variety of ways to obtain and compare prices from lots of auto insurance companies. The best way to lower the rate you pay for Dodge Journey insurance consists of obtaining rate quotes online. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in several different ways.

One of the fastest ways to find low rates is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This method prevents you from having to do separate quote forms for every auto insurance company. One form will return price quotes direct from many companies.

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online is to manually visit the website for each individual company and request a quote. For example, let’s say you are doing a rate comparison from USAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. You would need to visit each site to enter the same coverage data repeatedly, and that explains why we recommend the first method. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.

The least recommended way to compare price quotes is driving to each insurance agency near you. Comparing online rate quotes has made agencies unnecessary unless you want the peace of mind that can only be provided by a licensed insurance agent. However, consumers can get prices online but purchase the actual policy in an agency.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but make sure you use nearly identical coverages with each company. If you are comparing different coverage information then you won’t be able to find the best deal for your Dodge Journey. Quoting even small variations in limits could skew the results. It’s important to know that comparing a large number of companies will enable you to find the best rates.

Don’t listen to company ads

Respected companies like Progressive, Geico, Allstate and State Farm endlessly run television, radio, and online ads. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you switch your policy. How is it plausible that every one can give you a better price? Here is how they do it.

All the different companies have underwriting criteria for the right customer that will generate a profit. For instance, a preferred risk should be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile may get the lowest car insurance rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Insureds who don’t qualify for the ideal profile must pay higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The wording the ads use say “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That’s why companies can make the claims of big savings.

This illustrates why you absolutely need to compare rate quotes every year. It’s just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will be your best fit.

Take advantage of every insurance discount

Companies don’t necessarily list every disount available in an easy-to-find place, so we researched a few of the more common as well as the least known credits available to bring down your rates.

  • Home Ownership Discount – Just owning your own home can save you money since owning and maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.
  • Defensive Driver – Participating in a class that teaches driver safety techniques could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
  • Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen with less frequency and will save you 10% or more.
  • Policy Bundle Discount – When you have multiple policies and insure them both with the same insurance company you could save up to 20% and get you inexpensive insurance coverage.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
  • Federal Government Employee – Active or retired federal employment could provide a small rate reduction on Journey coverage with select insurance companies.
  • Renewal Discounts – Some insurance companies give discounts for switching companies prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
  • Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
  • ABS Braking Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are much safer to drive so you can save 10 percent or more.
  • Sign Online – Many insurance companies will give a small break for buying a policy and signing up on your computer.

As a footnote on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. If you do the math and it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.

Popular insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts are shown below.

  • Geico has discounts for daytime running lights, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, membership and employees, military active duty, and five-year accident-free.
  • MetLife offers premium reductions for good driver, accident-free, good student, multi-policy, claim-free, defensive driver
  • Progressive discounts include good student, online signing, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and continuous coverage.
  • Travelers offers discounts for save driver, multi-policy, new car, home ownership, and early quote.
  • SAFECO may include discounts for accident prevention training, homeowner, anti-theft, teen safety rewards, teen safe driver, and bundle discounts.
  • AAA may have discounts that include education and occupation, multi-car, multi-policy, anti-theft, pay-in-full, good driver, and good student.

It’s a good idea to ask all the companies to give you their best rates. Discounts may not apply to policies in your state. If you would like to choose from a list of companies who offer free insurance quotes, click here to view.

How to know if you need help

When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if you will benefit from professional help.

  • How do I insure my teen driver?
  • What discounts do I qualify for?
  • Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
  • What is the minimum liability in my state?
  • Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
  • Will my insurance pay for OEM parts?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Insurance policy coverages for a 2017 Dodge Journey

Learning about specific coverages of your insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find typical coverage types found on the average insurance policy.

Liability coverage

This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover 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. As an example, you may have liability limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use a combined limit which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage pays for things like bail bonds, loss of income, pain and suffering and emergency aid. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but you should buy higher limits if possible.

Coverage for collisions

This covers damage to your Journey resulting from a collision with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for claims like hitting a mailbox, scraping a guard rail, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a parking meter and crashing into a building. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Frequently your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for immediate expenses for things like X-ray expenses, surgery, pain medications, chiropractic care and rehabilitation expenses. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover you and your occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive coverage

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

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from flooding, hail damage, hitting a deer and a broken windshield. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

A tidy conclusion

Cost effective 2017 Dodge Journey insurance is possible from both online companies and also from your neighborhood agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some car insurance companies do not provide rate quotes online and usually these smaller companies prefer to sell through independent agents.

Throughout this article, we presented many ways to reduce 2017 Dodge Journey insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Some small companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or Geico.

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