Cheaper 1998 Pontiac Sunfire Insurance Rates

Locating low-cost insurance for a Pontiac Sunfire can be difficult, but you can learn the following methods and make it easy. There are more efficient ways to buy insurance coverage so you’re going to learn the quickest way to compare rates on a Pontiac and obtain the lowest price from both online companies and local agents.

If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you can use this information to shop for the lowest rates and still get good coverage. Buying the lowest cost protection is quite easy. Vehicle owners just need to understand the most efficient way to shop for auto insurance online.

Comparison of Insurance

Getting a cheaper price on 1998 Pontiac Sunfire insurance is not rocket science. You just need to invest a little time comparing rate quotes from different insurance companies. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

  1. The first (and easiest) way consumers can make multiple comparisons is an all-inclusive rate comparison click to view form in new window. This form prevents you from having to do separate forms to each individual insurance company. Just one form will return price quotes from many national carriers. This is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time.
  2. A more difficult way to get quotes online is to manually visit each individual company website and fill out their own quote form. For example, we’ll pretend you want rates from Geico, Safeco and Progressive. To get rate quotes you would need to spend time on each company’s site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.

  3. The hardest method of comparing rate quotes is driving to and from local insurance agencies. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you require the professional advice of a local agent. However, consumers can comparison shop your insurance online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll talk about that later.

However you get your quotes, ensure you’re using the exact same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If you compare different values for each quote it will be very difficult to decipher which rate is best.

Lower rates by qualifying for discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t always publicize all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both the well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Anti-theft Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies prior to your current policy expiring. It’s a savings of about 10%.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
  • Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Good Student Discount – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
  • Save over 55 – Older drivers can possibly qualify for better insurance rates on Sunfire insurance.
  • New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
  • Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.

To see a list of providers who offer insurance discounts, follow this link.

Pontiac Sunfire rates are in the details

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for insurance coverage. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get better insurance coverage rates.

  • Special features that cut premiums – Owning a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent your car from being stolen.
  • Protect your assets with liability insurance – Liability coverage will protect you if ever you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Don’t buy coverages you don’t need – There are quite a few add-on coverages you can purchase on your 1998 Sunfire policy. Things like personal injury protection, better glass coverage and additional equipment coverage are some examples. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • Small claims can cost you – If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance companies generally give discounts to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Car insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.

Car insurance is unique, just like you

When buying coverage, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if you might need an agent’s assistance.

  • How much can I save by bundling my policies?
  • Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
  • Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
  • What can I do if my company denied a claim?
  • Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • Should I rate my 1998 Pontiac Sunfire as pleasure use or commute?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Consumers constantly see and hear ads that promise big savings from companies such as Progressive, Allstate and Geico. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you move your policy.

But how can every company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer might be between 25 and 40, has no tickets, and chooses high deductibles. Any driver who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential customers who don’t meet these standards will be charged a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. That is why it’s extremely important to get as many comparisons as possible. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Specifics of your car insurance policy

Having a good grasp of your car insurance policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Comprehensive coverages – This coverage will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as a broken windshield, theft, hitting a bird and hitting a deer. The highest amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Collision coverages – Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Sunfire resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for things like backing into a parked car, damaging your car on a curb, hitting a parking meter and crashing into a ditch. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Pontiac Sunfire.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Liability insurance – Liability coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of 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 50/100/50 which means a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as funeral expenses, pain and suffering, attorney fees and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but buy as large an amount as possible.

Coverage for medical payments – Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses like hospital visits, X-ray expenses, prosthetic devices and funeral costs. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Power to the consumer

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. Too many times, an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford.

Lower-priced 1998 Pontiac Sunfire insurance can be sourced online in addition to many insurance agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance coverage companies do not provide online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

Drivers who switch companies do it for many reasons like lack of trust in their agent, high prices, unfair underwriting practices or even being labeled a high risk driver. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a great new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

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