1997 Mazda Protege Insurance Quotes – 10 Ideas for Best Rates

Want lower auto insurance rates for your Mazda Protege? Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy high-priced auto insurance? Trust us, you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. Drivers have multiple car insurance companies to buy insurance from, and although it’s a good thing to have a selection, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

Finding the best rates is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Drivers only need an understanding of the proper methods to buy auto insurance online.

These ten discounts can lower your rates

Companies don’t always publicize all available discounts very clearly, so here is a list both the well known and the more hidden car insurance savings. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying car insurance for Protege coverage.
  • Drive Safe and Save – Insureds without accidents may save up to 50% more for Protege coverage than less cautious drivers.
  • Good Student Discount – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
  • Own a Home – Owning a house can save you money because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military can result in better rates.
  • Braking Control Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Federal Government Employee – Simply working for the federal government could cut as much as 10% off for Protege coverage depending on your company.
  • Paperwork-free – A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy on their website.
  • Drivers Ed for Students – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.

It’s important to note that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

For a list of companies offering car insurance discounts, click here.

Different people need different coverages

When buying the best auto insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

  • What is the ISO rating for a 1997 Mazda Protege?
  • Is my teenager covered with friends in the car?
  • I have health insurance so do I need medical payments coverage?
  • Am I covered if I hit a deer?
  • Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
  • Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?

If you’re not sure about those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Do drivers who switch really save?

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and Geico. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you change your coverage to them.

How can each company claim to save you money?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver they prefer to insure. A good example of a profitable customer might be profiled as over the age of 50, has no driving citations, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who don’t measure up to this ideal profile will be quoted higher premiums which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That’s the way companies can claim big savings. This emphasizes why it is so important to quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict the company that will have the lowest Mazda Protege insurance rates.

Insurance coverages explained

Knowing the specifics of your insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverages found on most insurance policies.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your 1997 Mazda Protege.

Due to the fact that many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.

Collision insurance

This pays for damage to your Protege from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for claims like damaging your car on a curb, sustaining damage from a pot hole, sideswiping another vehicle, hitting a parking meter and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive auto coverage

This pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as vandalism, fire damage, falling objects, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and a broken windshield. The most your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses like dental work, EMT expenses and surgery. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto liability insurance

Liability insurance will cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000.

Liability can pay for things such as bail bonds, attorney fees and court costs. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Don’t throw your cash in the trash

When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an insured cut physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

We covered some good ideas how you can save on 1997 Mazda Protege insurance. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

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