View 2000 Dodge Dakota Car Insurance Cost

Are you overwhelmed by the dozens of insurance options? Many other drivers are as well. People have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a ton of work to find the best price.

Smart consumers take time to check insurance prices occasionally since rates are variable and change quite frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates for Dakota coverage a year ago other companies may now be cheaper. So forget all the misinformation about insurance because we’re going to show you how to quote online to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Discounts mean cheaper Dodge Dakota insurance rates

Companies do not advertise all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the more common as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

  • Clubs and Organizations – Affiliation with a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break when buying insurance for Dakota coverage.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Save with a New Car – Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
  • Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • Theft Prevention System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
  • Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you may save up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount for Dakota coverage with select insurance companies.
  • Military Discounts – Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of more than 20%.

Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky.

A partial list of companies that possibly offer some of the above discounts include:

It’s a good idea to ask each insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts might not apply everywhere.

Compare Car Insurance Today

Shopping for lower car insurance rates can be exhausting if you don’t utilize the easiest way. You can waste a lot of time driving to agents in your area, or you can stay home and use online quoting to maximize your effort.

Most car insurance companies take part in a program that enables customers to submit one quote, and each participating company returns a rated price based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms for each company you want a rate for.

To access this free quoting program, click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to doing it this way is you don’t know exactly which carriers you will receive quotes from. If you would rather choose individual companies for rate comparison, we put together a list of companies who write car insurance in your area. Click here to view list.

Whichever way you use, ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverages with each company. If the quotes have higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to make a fair comparison for your Dodge Dakota. Just a small difference in coverage limits can make a big difference in price. And when comparison shopping, getting more free quotes helps you find a lower rate.

Dodge Dakota rates are in the details

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating your insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that could result in better insurance rates.

  • Sex matters – Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don’t assume that women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men cause accidents at a similar rate, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI.
  • Liability coverage is peace of mind – Liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides you with a defense in court starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free – If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Companies provide cheaper rates to people who are claim-free. Your insurance policy is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Do you need those extra coverages? – There are quite a few add-on coverages that you can buy on your insurance policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem good at first, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
  • Rural vs Urban Areas – Living in a small town can save you money when insuring your vehicles. Drivers who live in large cities have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
  • Drive less and save money – The more you drive in a year the higher your rates will be. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles that are left in the garage qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Improper usage on your Dakota may be wasting your money. Verify your insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage.
  • A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor and your next policy will cost more because you let your coverage have a gap. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.You may then be required to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
  • Choose a safe vehicle and save – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles protect occupants better and fewer injuries translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates. If your Dodge has ratings of a minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website you may qualify for a discount.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to choosing coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

For example, these questions might point out whether your personal situation might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
  • Am I covered if hit by an uninsured driver?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • Does my 2000 Dodge Dakota need full coverage?
  • Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • Should I have a commercial auto policy?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
  • How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in my state?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

Save $472 a year? Really?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the ads make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you change your coverage to them. How can each company make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer they prefer to insure. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don’t measure up to this ideal profile must pay higher prices and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That’s why companies can advertise the savings. This illustrates why it is so important to quote coverage with many companies. Because you never know the company that will give you the biggest savings on Dodge Dakota insurance.

Insurance specifics

Understanding the coverages of insurance can help you determine the best coverages for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.

Collision protection

Collision insurance covers damage to your Dakota resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers claims such as crashing into a building, sideswiping another vehicle and scraping a guard rail. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for expenses like ambulance fees, surgery and X-ray expenses. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hail damage, theft, damage from getting keyed and vandalism. The maximum payout your insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

This protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

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. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.

Liability

Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability can pay for claims like funeral expenses, repair costs for stationary objects and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Don’t throw your cash in the trash

Consumers switch companies for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, poor customer service, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or even high rates after DUI convictions. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching companies is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of information how to shop for 2000 Dodge Dakota insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

Discount insurance is possible online as well as from independent agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

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