Auto Insurance Rate Quotes for a Dodge Ram 3500 in Raleigh

It’s well known that insurance companies want to keep you from comparing prices. Insureds who shop rates annually are highly likely to switch auto insurance companies because they have a good chance of finding discount prices. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that people who shopped around saved on average $860 a year compared to those who didn’t regularly shop around.

If finding the most affordable insurance is your objective, understanding how to compare coverages can help you be more efficient.

It takes a few minutes, but the best way to get more affordable Dodge Ram 3500 insurance is to compare quotes once a year from different companies who provide auto insurance in Raleigh. Prices can be compared by completing these steps.

• Step 1: Try to learn a little about the coverage provided by your policy and the things you can control to drop your rates. Many factors that result in higher prices such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and an unacceptable credit rating can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
• Step 2: Compare rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers. View a list of agents
• Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy and see if you can save money. If you find a lower rate and buy the policy, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.

One thing to point out is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same level of coverage on each quote request and and to get prices from as many companies as feasibly possible. This guarantees a fair rate comparison and the best price quote selection.

Buying the cheapest auto insurance in Raleigh is really not that difficult. In a nutshell, everyone who is required by state law to have auto insurance should find better rates. Although North Carolina drivers must know how big insurance companies compete online and use it to your advantage.

Dodge Ram 3500 Insurance Price Factors

Part of the insurance buying process is learning a few of the rating criteria that come into play when calculating your insurance rates. If you have some idea of what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower premium levels. Many things are part of the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable like an MVR report, but others are less obvious like your continuous coverage or your commute time.

Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Many companies allow discounts to clients that purchase more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. The discount can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. If you currently are using one company, it’s always a smart idea to check prices from other companies to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.

Women tend to take less risk – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean males are worse at driving than females. Both genders have auto accidents in similar numbers, but the men have accidents that have higher claims. In addition to higher claims, males also get higher numbers of serious violations like reckless driving and DUI.

The example below shows the comparison of Dodge Ram 3500 insurance prices for male and female drivers. The premium estimates are based on no violations or claims, full coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Low coverage deductibles can be expensive – The deductibles state the amount of money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if the claim is covered. Physical damage insurance, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are rear-ending another vehicle, animal collisions, and damage from wind. The more damage repair cost you’re willing to pay, the better rate you will receive.

Do you save by driving less? – The higher the miles on your Dodge in a year’s time the higher the price you pay to insure it. Most companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than vehicles that have high annual mileage. Having an incorrect usage rating on your Ram 3500 may be wasting your money. Verify your policy is rated on the correct usage.

Poor driving habits leads to higher rates – Whether or not you get tickets can have a huge impact on auto insurance premiums. Attentive drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Having just one speeding ticket can increase the cost of insurance by twenty percent. Drivers who have serious violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to complete a SR-22 with their state’s licensing department in order to continue driving.

The example below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault accidents influence Dodge Ram 3500 premium costs for different age groups of insureds. Data assumes a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Lower rates with theft deterrents – Selecting a car model that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Advanced theft deterrents such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all help stop auto theft.

When should you file insurance claims? – Companies in North Carolina give discounts to insureds who are claim-free. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for claims that pose a financial burden.

Rates and other information

The premium table below highlights different policy rates for Dodge Ram 3500 models. Being more informed about how car insurance prices are figured can be useful when making smart choices when selecting a policy.

Data assumes married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free. Price estimates do not factor in garaging location in Raleigh which can modify coverage prices considerably.

Rate comparison for different deductibles

The hardest decision when buying coverage is at what level do you set your deductibles. The tables below can help show the rate difference when you buy lower versus higher comp and collision deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 deductible for comp and collision and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Premium amounts do not factor in garaging location in Raleigh which can raise or lower premiums substantially.

Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $35 more each month or $420 every year than opting for the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $900 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you go more than 26 months between claim filings, you would come out ahead if you elect the higher deductible.

The information below shows how different deductible levels and can raise or lower Dodge Ram 3500 premium costs for different age groups. Data assumes a married female driver, comp and collision included, and no policy discounts are applied.

Price comparison of only insuring for liability

The illustration below shows the comparison of Dodge Ram 3500 insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. Data assumes a clean driving record, no claims, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are factored in.

When to buy liability coverage only

There is no exact rule for eliminating physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.

For example, let’s assume your Dodge Ram 3500 claim settlement value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would get paid by your company is $2,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are currently paying more than $200 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

There are some situations where dropping full coverage is not a good plan. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to maintain full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should keep full coverage in place.

Insurance policy discounts for Dodge Ram 3500 insurance in Raleigh

Car insurance companies do not advertise every policy discount very well, so the list below contains both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts that may be available.

• Bundle and Save – If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you could earn a discount of at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
• Telematics Devices – Drivers who elect to allow their insurance company to monitor driving manner by installing a telematics device such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system might see lower rates if they show good driving skills.
• Senior Citizens – Drivers over the age of 55 can get a small discount on rates.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with ABS braking systems or traction control are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
• New Car Discount – Putting insurance coverage on a new Ram 3500 can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles are generally safer.
• Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles on your Dodge can qualify you for discounted premium rates on garaged vehicles.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck. Any qualifying discounts will definitely reduce the premium cost.

The example below visualizes the comparison of Dodge Ram 3500 annual premium costs with and without policy discounts. The data is based on a male driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, safe-driver, claim-free, marriage, homeowner, and multi-policy discounts applied.

Insurance companies that may have these benefits possibly include:

• Progressive
• Farmers Insurance
• Farm Bureau
• State Farm
• GEICO
• SAFECO
• Liberty Mutual

When quoting, ask each insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. Some credits might not be available to policyholders in Raleigh.

Smart consumers save more

People leave their current company for a variety of reasons including policy cancellation, lack of trust in their agent, delays in paying claims or even policy non-renewal. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a great new company can be pretty painless.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at the best cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

Some insurance providers may not provide price quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies only sell coverage through independent agents. Budget-conscious Dodge Ram 3500 insurance is possible on the web and also from your neighborhood Raleigh agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection.

More information can be read at the links below

• Understanding your Policy (NAIC.org)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Over Age 70 in Raleigh? (FAQ)
• What Insurance is Cheapest for a Chevrolet Equinox in Raleigh? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Toyota Tundra in Raleigh? (FAQ)
• How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Teenagers in Raleigh? (FAQ)
• Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
• Insuring a Leased Car (Insurance Information Institute)
• Rearview cameras reduce backing crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)