Lower Your 1996 Pontiac Sunfire Insurance Quotes

Searching for the cheapest insurance for a Pontiac Sunfire can normally be a lot of work, but you can learn these tips to make it easier. There are more efficient ways to shop for auto insurance so we’re going to tell you the quickest way to price shop coverage for a Pontiac and get the best price possible from both online companies and local agents.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance

Getting better 1996 Pontiac Sunfire auto insurance pricing can be surprisingly simple. The only thing you need to do is take a few minutes to compare rate quotes from different insurance companies. This can be done in several different ways.

The fastest way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This easy form eliminates the need for boring form submissions for every auto insurance company. Just one form gets you price quotes from many national carriers. It’s definitely the quickest method.

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online requires you to visit the website for each individual company to request a price quote. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you want to compare Geico, Farmers and Travelers. You would have to go to every website to input your insurance information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.

To view a list of companies in your area, click here.

The most time-consuming way to get comparison rates is to spend your day driving to local insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you prefer the trained guidance of a local agent. Drivers can price shop your coverage online and still use a local agent.

Whichever way you use, be sure to compare exactly the same coverages for each comparison quote. If each company quotes unequal deductibles or liability limits you will not be able to make a fair comparison for your Pontiac Sunfire.

Save big with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Good Student – Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
  • College Student – Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Accident Waiver – A handful of insurance companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
  • New Car Discount – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Senior Discount – Older drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums on Sunfire insurance.
  • Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner may trigger a auto insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with one company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Driver’s Ed – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class in school.
  • Discount for Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts, click here to view.

But I don’t know anything about car insurance

When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s needs are different.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining if you will benefit from professional help.

  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
  • Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
  • Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
  • Is my teenager covered with friends in the car?
  • Does coverage extend to Mexico or Canada?
  • Do I need motorclub coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Pontiac Sunfire rate determination is complex

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Don’t get talked into coverage you don’t need – There are a lot of add-on coverages that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for roadside assistance, towing coverage and motor club memberships are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea initially, but if you don’t need them eliminate them to save money.
  • Pleasure use saves money – The higher the mileage driven each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. An improperly rated Sunfire may be costing you. Make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Lower rates come with age – Teenage drivers are known to be less responsible when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds tend to be more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
  • Never allow your policy to lapse – Driving your car without having proper coverage can get your license suspended and as a result your rates will increase for letting your insurance expire. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance will get you a license revocation or jail time.
  • Better crash test results mean better rates – Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you. If your Pontiac Sunfire scored better than four stars on Safercar.gov you are probably receiving a discount.
  • Do you know your deductibles? – Insurance for physical damage to your car, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your Pontiac. Examples of covered claims could be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, or theft. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more expense you’re willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive on Sunfire insurance.

Do insurance coverage companies bend the truth?

Consumers can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings from the likes of Progressive, Geico, Allstate and State Farm. They all have a common claim that you can save if you move your coverage to them.

How does each company make the same claim? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver they prefer to insure. A good example of a preferred risk might be profiled as between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who don’t meet the “perfect” profile will be quoted higher premiums which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why it is so important to compare many company’s rates. It’s not possible to predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest Pontiac Sunfire insurance rates.

Insurance coverages and their meanings

Having a good grasp of your insurance policy aids in choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Auto liability

This coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects YOU against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability insurance covers claims like medical services, loss of income, medical expenses and bail bonds. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Collision coverage

Collision coverage pays for damage to your Sunfire caused by collision with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage pays for claims like backing into a parked car, crashing into a ditch, crashing into a building, rolling your car and hitting a parking meter. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Comprehensive auto coverage

This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as damage from getting keyed, hitting a deer, hitting a bird, vandalism and damage from flooding. 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.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your 1996 Pontiac Sunfire.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for immediate expenses for things like chiropractic care, ambulance fees and hospital visits. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

You can do this!

You just learned many tips how you can shop for 1996 Pontiac Sunfire insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the most savings is with the smaller companies.

The cheapest insurance can be found both online in addition to many insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that it was a big error on their part. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at the best price.

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