1999 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Car Insurance Rates – 8 Tips for Cheaper Quotes

Are you intimidated by the sheer number of insurance coverage options? Many other drivers are as well. You have so many companies to choose from that it can be more work than you anticipated to find the lowest price.

How to Get Cheap Car Insurance

When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways of comparing rate quotes from different insurance companies. The best method to find competitive 1999 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 insurance rates is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way consumers can make multiple comparisons is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This form prevents you from having to do multiple quote forms for every car insurance company. Just one form gets you price quotes direct from many companies.It’s the quickest way to get rates.

A more time consuming way to get quotes online requires a trip to each company’s website to complete their respective quote request forms. For sake of this example, let’s assume you want comparison quotes from Auto-Owners, State Farm and Allstate. To get each rate you have to visit each site and enter your policy data, and that’s why the first method is more popular. For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.

Whichever way you use, ensure you’re using identical coverage information with every price quote. If you enter higher or lower deductibles then you won’t be able to make a fair comparison for your Dodge Ram Pickup 3500. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits may cause a big price difference. Just keep in mind that getting more free quotes helps locate a better price.

The insurance bait and switch

Companies like State Farm and Allstate consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the ads make the same claim of big savings if you change to them. But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.

Consumers who are not a match for the requirements will be quoted a more expensive rate and ends up with business not being written. The ads state “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That is how insurance companies can confidently make those claims.

This emphasizes why it is so important to compare many company’s rates. It’s not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings on Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 insurance.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you complete an application, but a few need to be asked about before being credited.

  • Safe Drivers – Safe drivers may receive a discount up to 45% less for Ram pickup insurance than their less cautious counterparts.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • Safety Course Discount – Successfully completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
  • Sign Online – Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing on their website.
  • Memberships – Belonging to certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates when buying insurance for Ram pickup insurance.
  • No Charge for an Accident – A few companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven’t had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
  • New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any qualifying discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

Companies that possibly offer these benefits include:

Double check with all companies you are considering which discounts you may be entitled to. All car insurance discounts might not apply everywhere.

When should I talk to an agent?

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

For example, these questions can aid in determining whether you could use an agent’s help.

  • What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
  • Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • What is medical payments coverage?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
  • Is my camper covered by my car insurance policy?
  • How do I insure my teen driver?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form.

Learn about insurance coverages for a Dodge Ram Pickup 3500

Knowing the specifics of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.

Comprehensive coverages

Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like damage from flooding, a broken windshield and falling objects. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Coverage for medical payments

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for bills for things like X-ray expenses, surgery, doctor visits and nursing services. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Collision coverage

This coverage covers damage to your Ram Pickup 3500 resulting from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage pays for claims like driving through your garage door, damaging your car on a curb, scraping a guard rail and crashing into a ditch. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Liability coverages

This will cover damage that occurs to people or other property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage protects against things like repair costs for stationary objects, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, court costs and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Dodge Ram Pickup 3500.

Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Usually these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.

More choices the merrier

Affordable 1999 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 insurance is definitely available online as well as from independent agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

In this article, we covered a lot of information how to reduce insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a small mutual company.

While you’re price shopping online, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while still protecting your assets.

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