Compare 2001 Chevrolet Malibu Insurance Quotes

Do you get exhausted from trying to scrape together enough money to pay high auto insurance rates every month? You are no different than many other consumers.

Consumers have so many auto insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and even though it’s nice to have a selection, it can be more challenging to locate the cheapest rates.

Choosing the best insurance company for you is not rocket science. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. But consumers need to have an understanding of how insurance companies market insurance on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Smart consumers save money

The best way to find cheaper insurance coverage is to take a look at some of the factors that aid in calculating the rates you pay for insurance coverage. If you understand what determines base rates, this allows you to make good choices that could result in big savings. Lots of factors are part of the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. Some factors are common sense such as your driving record, but other criteria are less apparent like where you live and annual miles driven.

  • File a policy claims and pay more – Car insurance companies provide lower rates to drivers who are not frequent claim filers. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can look forward to higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Your car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
  • More people means more accidents – Residing in smaller towns and rural areas of the country may provide you with better prices when trying to find low car insurance rates. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accident claims and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers who live in large cities have to deal with congested traffic and a longer drive to work. Longer commute distances statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.
  • Drive less and get lower prices – The more miles you rack up on your Chevy each year the higher the price you pay to insure it. A lot of companies charge to insure your cars partially by how you use the vehicle. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use can be on a lower rate level than those that get driven frequently. It’s a good idea to make sure your insurance coverage declarations sheet shows the correct usage. An incorrectly rated Malibu can result in significantly higher rates.
  • Married people drive safer – Having a spouse can actually save you money when buying insurance coverage. Marriage means you’re less irresponsible and insurance companies like that being married results in fewer claims.
  • Safer the car lower the rate – Vehicles that have high safety ratings can get you lower premiums. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts which can mean better rates for you. If your Chevy Malibu has at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website it may be receiving lower rates.
  • Gender is a factor – Over time, data shows that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that females are better at driving than males. Women and men are in fender benders at about the same rate, but guys cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to get cited for more serious violations such as reckless driving.
  • Driving citations mean higher costs – Even a single moving violation can boost insurance rates substantially. Attentive drivers get better prices than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who have multiple violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to complete a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent their license from being revoked.

Insurance discounts are available to reduce your rates

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but companies offer discounts that could help you make your next renewal payment. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but a few need to be asked about prior to getting the savings.

  • E-sign Discounts – Many larger companies will provide an incentive just for signing your application on their website.
  • Payment Method – If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
  • Distant Student Discount – Children who are enrolled in higher education away from home and won’t have access to an insured vehicle could qualify for this discount.
  • Multiple Cars – Drivers who insure more than one vehicle with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
  • Discount for Home Ownership – Owning a house can save a few bucks due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.

Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

Insurance companies who might offer most of these discounts possibly include:

If you need lower rates, check with every prospective company the best way to save money. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not apply to policies in every state. To find insurance companies with the best discounts, click here.

Advertising and insurance coverage

Insurance coverage providers like State Farm and Allstate seem to constantly run ads on television and other media. They all have a common claim that drivers will save a bundle if you change your policy. How does each company give you a better price? This is the way they can do it.

Many companies can use profiling for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer should be between the ages of 30 and 50, has a clean driving record, and has great credit. Any new insured who fits those characteristics will probably get cheap car insurance rates and will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential insureds who fall outside these criteria must pay higher rates which leads to business not being written. If you pay close attention to the ads, they say “customers who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save the amount stated. That’s why companies can make claims like that. Because of the profiling, drivers must do a price quote comparison at every renewal. You cannot predict with any certainty which company will have the lowest prices for your situation.

Everyone needs different insurance coverages

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions could help you determine whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Why do I only qualify for high-risk insurance?
  • Is my 2001 Chevy Malibu covered for smoke damage?
  • Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
  • Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
  • Am I covered when driving a rental car?
  • Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver?
  • Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area.

Specifics of your auto insurance policy

Understanding the coverages of a auto insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverages available from auto insurance companies.

Comprehensive auto coverage

This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as hail damage, theft, hitting a bird, damage from getting keyed and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for expenses for things like surgery, prosthetic devices, X-ray expenses, ambulance fees and funeral costs. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers you and your occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Auto liability

This coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people. It protects YOU against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 100/300/100 which means a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage protects against things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, legal defense fees and medical expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against claims like driving through your garage door, hitting a mailbox, crashing into a ditch, sustaining damage from a pot hole and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This coverage provides protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Chevy Malibu.

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.

Compare but don’t skimp

In this article, we presented some good ideas how to compare 2001 Chevy Malibu insurance premium rates online. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting the cheapest insurance. You may even discover the biggest savings come from a lesser-known regional company. They may only write in your state and offer lower prices as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive and Geico.

Budget-conscious 2001 Chevy Malibu insurance can be bought on the web and also from your neighborhood agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small insurance companies prefer to sell through local independent agencies.

Additional resources