2001 Oldsmobile Alero Car Insurance Rates – 10 Tips for Cheaper Quotes

Comparing insurance quotes online probably sounds like a formidable task if you’ve never received online quotes. Don’t let the process intimidate you because we’re going to show you how.

It’s smart to do price comparisons on a regular basis due to the fact that insurance prices are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you found the best rates on Alero coverage six months ago you will most likely find a better premium rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we’re going to show you the proper way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. This article will tell you how car insurance quotes work. But vehicle owners must understand the methods companies use to price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.

How to buy insurance online

To get affordable insurance quotes, there a variety of ways to obtain and compare prices from many insurance companies in your state. By far the easiest way to do a complete rate comparison is to perform an online rate comparison. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in a couple minutes as outlined below.

The single most time-saving way to compare a lot of rates at once would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This method keeps you from doing a different quote for every prospective company. Just one form gets rate comparisons direct from many companies. It’s definitely the quickest method.

A slightly less efficient method to find better pricing requires a visit to the website for every company you want to comare and fill out their own quote form. For sake of this example, let’s say you want rates from Liberty Mutual, Progressive and GMAC. In order to compare rates, you need to spend time on each company’s site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.

However you get your quotes, make sure you compare exactly the same coverage data for each comparison quote. If your comparisons have different coverage information it will be next to impossible to get a fair rate comparison. Slightly different coverages may result in a large different in cost. And when comparison shopping, comparing a large number of companies provides better odds of finding lower pricing. Some smaller insurers to not give prices over the internet, so you need to compare price quotes on coverage from those companies, too.

Can switching companies really save?

Respected companies like State Farm, Geico and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. All the ads make an identical promise about how much you will save after switching to them. It sounds good, but how can they all say the same thing? It’s all in the wording.

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for a prospective insured that is profitable for them. A good example of a preferred risk might be described as married and over the age of 30, has never had a claim, and does not commute to work. Anybody that fits those parameters receives the best rates and have a good chance to save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who are not a match for this ideal profile may receive higher premium rates and business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much when switching. That’s the way companies can make those claims.

Because of these techniques, you absolutely need to compare rate quotes every year. Because you cannot predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Take these ten policy discounts and save

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can help lower your rates. A few discounts will be applied at quote time, but less common discounts must be inquired about before being credited. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you could be getting lower rates.

  • Accident Forgiveness – This isn’t a discount exactly, but certain companies may permit one accident without raising rates if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
  • Multi-car Discount – Having multiple vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Discount for Good Grades – A discount for being a good student could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. You can use this discount normally up to age 25.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts may be able to save a few bucks on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • Active Military Service – Being on active deployment in the military could qualify you for better insurance coverage rates.
  • Defensive Driver Discount – Taking part in a defensive driver class could earn you a small percentage discount depending on where you live.
  • Student Driver Training – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
  • Homeowners Pay Less – Just owning your own home can get you a discount due to the fact that maintaining a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
  • Club Memberships – Participating in qualifying employment or professional organizations may earn a discount on your bill.
  • Renewal Discounts – A few insurance companies allow discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. You may see this discount when you get insurance quotes online.

You can save money using discounts, but some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Even though it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

A list of insurance coverage companies and a selection of discounts are outlined below.

  • 21st Century may include discounts for early bird, good student, teen driver, anti-lock brakes, and driver training.
  • State Farm has discounts for Drive Safe & Save, safe vehicle, driver’s education, anti-theft, good driver, and accident-free.
  • AAA policyholders can earn discounts including good student, education and occupation, anti-theft, multi-policy, good driver, and pay-in-full.
  • Liberty Mutual offers discounts including newly retired, exclusive group savings, newly married, new vehicle discount, multi-car, good student, and new graduate.
  • Progressive discounts include online signing, homeowner, good student, continuous coverage, online quote discount, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle.

When getting free insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to all the companies the best way to save money. Discounts might not be offered in your area. To find insurers who offer insurance coverage discounts, follow this link.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When choosing proper insurance coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your situation will benefit from professional help.

  • When would I need rental car insurance?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
  • What is the rate difference between pleasure use and commuting?
  • Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
  • What is the minimum liability in my state?
  • Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
  • How do I insure my teen driver?
  • Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
  • Is extra glass coverage worth it?

If you’re not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form.

Learn about insurance coverages for an Oldsmobile Alero

Having a good grasp of insurance can be of help when determining which coverages you need for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as a broken windshield, damage from flooding, theft, rock chips in glass and hail damage. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Liability

This coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to other people or property by causing an accident. It protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have values of 100/300/100 that translate to a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability insurance covers claims like legal defense fees, structural damage and medical expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but buy as large an amount as possible.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and damage to your Oldsmobile Alero.

Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for bills like rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits and surgery. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Collision coverage protection

This coverage covers damage to your Alero from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for things like scraping a guard rail, damaging your car on a curb and driving through your garage door. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

In any little way, save everyday

The cheapest 2001 Oldsmobile Alero insurance is available from both online companies in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. A few companies may not have the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When searching for low cost insurance quotes, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

Throughout this article, we presented quite a bit of information on how to reduce 2001 Oldsmobile Alero insurance car insurance rates online. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding cheaper insurance. You may even discover the lowest car insurance rates are with some of the smallest insurance companies.

Much more information about insurance can be found below: