If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to get more affordable auto insurance rates is to compare quotes once a year from different companies who can sell car insurance in Raleigh. You can shop around by following these steps.
- It will benefit you to learn about what is in your policy and the modifications you can make to prevent high rates. Many risk factors that result in higher rates like speeding tickets, accidents and a less-than-favorable credit score can be improved by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
- Compare prices from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only quote rates from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from multiple sources. Compare rates now
- Compare the new rates to your existing coverage to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate quote, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
The most important part of this process is to try to use the same deductibles and limits on every quote request and and to get rate quotes from as many auto insurance providers as possible. Doing this enables a fair rate comparison and the best price selection.
Everyone knows that car insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. Insureds who shop around for the cheapest price will presumably switch companies because there is a great chance of finding lower prices. A survey found that consumers who compared rates once a year saved on average $850 each year compared to policyholders who never compared other company’s rates.
If finding budget-friendly rates on Dodge Caliber insurance is your objective, then having a grasp of the best way to compare insurance coverage can save time and money.
Informed Drivers Can Cut Their Insurance Prices
Many different elements are used when you quote your car insurance policy. Some of the criteria are obvious like an MVR report, but other factors are less obvious such as whether you are married or how financially stable you are. The best way to find cheaper car insurance is to take a look at some of the things that aid in calculating the price you pay for car insurance. When you understand what influences your rates, this helps enable you to make changes that could help you find lower car insurance prices.
Shown below are some of the factors that factor into your premiums.
Don’t skimp on liability – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance will protect you in the event that you are found to be at fault for an accident. Liability provides legal defense coverage which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Extra coverages can cost a lot – Insurance companies have many additional coverages that may not really be needed if you don’t pay attention. Coverage for things like personal injury protection, towing coverage, and extra life insurance coverage are some examples. The coverages may be enticing when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
Careless driving leads to higher costs – Only having one ticket can increase the cost of insurance by as much as thirty percent. Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Drivers who have dangerous citations like reckless driving or DUI may face state-mandated requirements to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
The information below illustrates how traffic citations and accident claims can impact Dodge Caliber insurance costs for different age groups of insureds. The premium estimates are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Gender and car insurance – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown that females take fewer risks when driving. However, don’t assume that men are worse drivers. Females and males cause fender benders in similar numbers, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Not only that, but men also receive more costly citations such as reckless driving. Youthful male drivers tend to get in the most accidents so it costs more to insure them.
The diagram below compares Dodge Caliber auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The premiums assume no tickets, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.
Vehicle features can affect rates – Selecting a car model that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you some money. Theft deterrent systems such as OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms all help prevent your car from being stolen.
Low physical damage deductibles mean high premiums – Coverage for physical damage, aka comp and collision, is used to repair damage to your Dodge. A few examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. Your deductibles tell how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more money you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
Dodge Caliber insurance analysis
The rate table displayed next covers different insurance premium costs for Dodge Caliber models. Learning how insurance policy rates are formulated can help drivers make decisions on the best policy to buy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caliber Express | $160 | $380 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $922 | $77 |
Caliber Heat | $160 | $380 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $922 | $77 |
Caliber SE | $160 | $380 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $922 | $77 |
Caliber Mainstreet | $160 | $380 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $922 | $77 |
Caliber Rush | $160 | $380 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $922 | $77 |
Caliber SXT | $160 | $380 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $922 | $77 |
Caliber Uptown | $160 | $380 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $922 | $77 |
Caliber R/T | $184 | $446 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $1,012 | $84 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices based on single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location information which can change insurance rates greatly.
Physical damage deductibles
One of the most common insurance questions is at what level do you set your deductibles. The premium rates below show the difference in cost when you buy lower versus higher physical damage deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $100 deductible and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caliber Express | $186 | $386 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $935 | $78 |
Caliber Heat | $186 | $386 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $935 | $78 |
Caliber SE | $186 | $386 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $935 | $78 |
Caliber Mainstreet | $186 | $386 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $935 | $78 |
Caliber Rush | $186 | $386 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $935 | $78 |
Caliber SXT | $186 | $386 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $935 | $78 |
Caliber Uptown | $186 | $386 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $935 | $78 |
Caliber R/T | $214 | $456 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,033 | $86 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caliber Express | $104 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $646 | $54 |
Caliber Heat | $104 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $646 | $54 |
Caliber SE | $104 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $646 | $54 |
Caliber Mainstreet | $104 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $646 | $54 |
Caliber Rush | $104 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $646 | $54 |
Caliber SXT | $104 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $646 | $54 |
Caliber Uptown | $104 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $646 | $54 |
Caliber R/T | $118 | $240 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $696 | $58 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rate quotes do not factor in your specific Raleigh location which can decrease or increase premiums noticeably.
We can derive from the above data that using a $100 deductible would cost the average driver about $24 more each month or $288 every year than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $900 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally go more than 38 months between claims, you would come out ahead by selecting a higher deductible.
Dodge Caliber full coverage rates compared to liability only
The example below illustrates the comparison of Dodge Caliber insurance premiums with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The costs are based on no claims or driving citations, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.
When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage
There isn’t a written rule for excluding physical damage coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than around 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s assume your Dodge Caliber claim settlement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company will settle for is $5,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying over $500 a year for physical damage coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some cases where dropping full coverage is not a good plan. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
Auto insurance discounts help lower rates for Dodge Caliber insurance in Raleigh
Some insurance providers do not list every available discount very clearly, so we researched a few of the more well known as well as some of the hidden credits available to you.
- Resident Student – Any of your kids who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from Raleigh and do not take a car to college may qualify for this discount.
- Early Payment Discounts – By making one initial payment rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
- Professional Memberships – Being in a qualifying organization may earn a discount on your bill.
- Discount for Swiching Early – A few auto insurance companies allow discounts for signing up before your current Caliber insurance policy expires. You may see this discount when you get Raleigh auto insurance quotes online.
- Telematics Devices – Insureds that choose to allow their insurance company to track driving habits through the use of a telematics system like Drivewise from Allstate or In-Drive from State Farm might see lower rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Discount for Passive Restraints – Options like air bags may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles with ABS braking systems or traction control can reduce accidents so you can save 10 percent or more.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you will save as much as 10 to 15 percent.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Forcing all vehicle occupants to wear their seat belts could save 15% off PIP or medical payments premium.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles on your Dodge may allow you to get lower prices on the low mileage vehicles.
It’s important to note that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Despite the appearance that it’s possible to get free car insurance, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will positively reduce the cost of your policy.
The chart below shows the comparison of Dodge Caliber insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the premium. The rates are based on a male driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-car, multi-policy, and homeowner discounts applied.
A list of companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts can be found below.
- Farm Bureau discounts include renewal discount, multi-policy, driver training, multi-vehicle, 55 and retired, safe driver, and good student.
- MetLife offers discounts including multi-policy, good student, claim-free, accident-free, and good driver.
- Progressive has savings for good student, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and continuous coverage.
- AAA includes discounts for education and occupation, pay-in-full, anti-theft, multi-car, and multi-policy.
- American Family may offer discounts for TimeAway discount, multi-vehicle, good student, bundled insurance, air bags, and early bird.
- GEICO may have discounts that include seat belt use, daytime running lights, defensive driver, five-year accident-free, and multi-vehicle.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including student away at school, good driver, Drive Safe & Save, multiple policy, passive restraint, and anti-theft.
It’s a good idea to ask every prospective company which discounts can lower your rates. Some discounts listed above may not be offered in every state. If you would like to view providers that offer discounts in Raleigh, click this link.
Persistence will pay off
As you quote Raleigh auto insurance, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
Some auto insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies only sell coverage through independent agents. Cheap Dodge Caliber insurance in Raleigh can be sourced on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture.
Additional auto insurance information is available on the following sites:
- Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for High Risk Drivers in Raleigh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for Drivers with Good Credit in Raleigh? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for 19 Year Olds in Raleigh? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance After a Speeding Ticket in Raleigh? (FAQ)
- How Much is Raleigh Auto Insurance with Multiple Speeding Tickets? (FAQ)
- No-Fault Auto Insurance Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Side airbags reduce rollover fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Protect Yourself Against Auto Theft (Insurance Information Institute)