2002 Dodge Stratus Insurance Rates

Frustrated by the crazy number of insurance providers available to you? consumers have so many options that it can easily turn into more work than you anticipated to locate the lowest prices.

It’s important to do rate comparisons before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Even if you think you had the best premium rates for Stratus insurance a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower price today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the fastest and easiest way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Shopping for the lowest cost protection is not that difficult. But vehicle owners do need to know the way companies compete online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Dodge Stratus insurance costs can be reduced

It’s important that you understand some of the things that help calculate the price you pay for car insurance. If you have some idea of what influences your rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower rates. Many things are used when quoting car insurance. Some are obvious such as your driving record, although others are more obscure like your continuous coverage or your commute time.

  • Limits of liability insurance – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance is the protection when a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should make sure they buy enough to cover all assets.
  • Married people drive safer – Walking down the aisle helps lower the price on your car insurance policy. It may mean you are more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that married couples file fewer claims.
  • Bundle and save – Most major companies afford lower prices to policyholders who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you qualify for this discount already, you still need to compare other company rates to help guarantee you have the best rates.
  • Policy claims cost money – If you frequently file small claims, you should expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies award the lowest premiums to insureds who are claim-free. Your car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
  • Job stress can affect prices – Occupational choices like military personnelpolice officers and emergency personnel are shown to have higher rates than average because of intense work situations and lengthy work days. Other jobs such as professors, historians and homemakers pay the least for Stratus insurance.

How to get insurance quotes

Comparing insurance rates can be exhausting if you don’t utilize the easiest way. You could spend the better part of a day discussing policy coverages with local insurance agents in your area, or you could use the internet to accomplish the same thing much quicker.

Most major companies are enrolled in a marketplace that allows shoppers to only type in their quote data once, and each participating company returns a rated price based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing form submissions for every insurance company.

To find out what other companies charge click to open in new window.

One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is buyers cannot specifically choose which insurance companies you want to price. If you would rather choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have assembled a list of insurance companies in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.

The method you choose is up to you, but be sure you’re using identical coverages and limits on every quote you get. If you are comparing different deductibles you will not be able to get a fair rate comparison. Slightly different coverage limits could mean much higher rates. And when comparison shopping, comparing all the rates in your area provides better odds of finding better pricing.

Brand name doesn’t guarantee savings

Companies like State Farm, Allstate and Geico endlessly run ads in print and on television. They all make the point of big savings if you just switch your policy. How does each company offer you a better deal? Here is how they do it.

Companies have specific guidelines for the type of insured that is profitable for them. A good example of this type of driver may be between 25 and 40, has never had a claim, and has a high credit rating. A propective insured who fits those characteristics gets the lowest prices and most likely will cut their rates if they switch.

Consumers who fall outside the ideal profile will probably be forced to pay higher prices and ends up with the customer not buying. If you pay close attention to the ads, they say “drivers who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save that much when switching. This is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. Because of this risk profiling, drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It’s just not possible to know with any certainty which company will have the lowest rate quotes.

Auto insurance discounts help slash rates

Auto insurance is not an enjoyable expense, but you might be missing out on some discounts that may help make it more affordable. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of purchase, but a few must be manually applied before they will apply.

  • Good Students Pay Less – This discount can save 20 to 25%. You can use this discount normally well after school through age 25.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military could trigger a small discount.
  • Home Ownership Discount – Owning a house can help you save on auto insurance because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
  • Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle up before driving can save 10% or more off PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen with less frequency and that can save you a little bit as well.
  • Bundled Policy Discount – When you combine your auto and home insurance with the same insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Payment Discounts – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can avoid monthly service charges.

You should keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you could get a free auto insurance policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy. But any discount will cut the premium cost.

Car insurance companies that may offer policyholders these money-saving discounts include:

When getting a coverage quote, ask every insurance company to apply every possible discount. Some discounts may not apply to policyholders in your state.

Which is the best car insurance?

When it comes to choosing coverage, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining whether you may require specific advice.

  • Why do I need rental car insurance?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
  • What is the ISO rating for a 2002 Dodge Stratus?
  • When should I drop full coverage on my 2002 Dodge Stratus?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount?
  • Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Does coverage extend to Mexico or Canada?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Car insurance coverage options for a Dodge Stratus

Knowing the specifics of your car insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Dodge Stratus.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Comprehensive coverages

Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like damage from flooding, fire damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a bird and hail damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Coverage for medical payments

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for expenses for things like rehabilitation expenses, pain medications, surgery, funeral costs and hospital visits. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Liability car insurance

Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people in an accident. It protects you from legal claims by others. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, 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 100/300/100 which means $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000.

Liability can pay for claims like medical expenses, court costs, funeral expenses and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Collision coverage protection

Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Stratus resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage pays for things such as backing into a parked car, scraping a guard rail and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Be a Smart Shopper

Some companies may not offer internet price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers only sell coverage through independent insurance agents. Lower-priced 2002 Dodge Stratus insurance is definitely available online in addition to local insurance agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis.

Insureds who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, high rates after DUI convictions, policy cancellation or unfair underwriting practices. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company can be easier than you think.

While you’re price shopping online, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your objective should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

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