Are Your Volkswagen Vanagon Auto Insurance Rates Too High?

Have you had enough of trying to scrape together enough money to pay auto insurance each month? You have the same problem as most other drivers. Numerous car insurance companies battle for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the lowest cost out there.

What Determines Volkswagen Vanagon Insurance Premiums?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that aid in calculating the level of your policy premiums. When consumers understand what impacts premium levels, this enables you to make decisions that can earn you better auto insurance rates.

• Cautious drivers pay the best prices – Careful drivers pay lower auto insurance prices compared to drivers with tickets. Getting just one moving violation can boost insurance rates to the point where it’s not affordable. Drivers who have received serious violations like DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may be required to maintain a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to legally drive.
• Men pay higher prices – Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn’t necessarily mean that females are better at driving than males. Females and males are responsible for accidents in similar numbers, but the men cause more damage. Not only that, but men also get ticketed for serious violations such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving recklessly.
• Rural vs Urban Areas – Choosing to live in smaller towns and rural areas of the country can save you money when buying auto insurance. Urban drivers regularly have more road rage incidents and a longer drive to work. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate.
• Use one insurance company and save – Many insurers will give lower prices to clients that have more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. The discount can be five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you qualify for this discount already, you may still want to compare other insurance prices to make sure you are getting the best deal.
• Liability protection safeguards assets – The liability section of your policy is the coverage that protects you if a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. It provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability insurance is pretty cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
• Increase physical damage deductibles and save – The deductibles you choose define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket if a claim is determined to be covered. Protection for physical damage, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be collision with another vehicle, animal collisions, and having a roll-over accident. The more damage repair cost you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be on vanagon coverage.
• Rate your vehicle for proper use – The higher the miles on your Volkswagen each year the higher your rates will be. Most companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos that have low annual miles get more affordable rates than cars that get driven a lot. It’s a smart idea to ensure your vehicle rating is showing the correct usage. A policy that improperly rates your Vanagon is throwing money out the window.

Affordable auto insurance rates with discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not list every available discount very clearly, so the list below contains a few of the more common and the harder-to-find credits that you can use to lower your rates.

• Drive Less and Save – Driving less could be rewarded with lower rates due to less chance of an accident.
• Anti-theft System – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Student Discount for Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.
• Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could save 15% on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
• College Student – Children who are enrolled in higher education away from home and do not take a car to college may be able to be covered for less.
• Memberships – Belonging to a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break when getting a .
• Own a Home – Just being a homeowner can earn you a little savings due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.

Just know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. If you do the math and it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, that’s just not realistic.

Popular auto insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts are outlined below.

• Progressive has savings for continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, online signing, multi-policy, good student, online quote discount, and homeowner.
• GEICO may include discounts for defensive driver, driver training, federal employee, five-year accident-free, seat belt use, emergency military deployment, and daytime running lights.
• State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including driver’s education, passive restraint, good driver, Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, safe vehicle, and Drive Safe & Save.
• Esurance may offer discounts for good student, claim free, homeowner, DriveSense, emergency road assistance, and multi-policy.
• The Hartford includes discounts for anti-theft, air bag, driver training, defensive driver, bundle, good student, and vehicle fuel type.

Before purchasing a policy, check with all the companies which discounts can lower your rates. Discounts may not apply in your area.

Can’t I get rate quotes from local insurance agencies?

Certain consumers just want to sit down and talk to an agent and often times that is recommended One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is the fact that drivers can get cheaper rates but also keep your business local.

After filling out this simple form, your information is transmitted to agents in your area who will gladly provide quotes for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to leave your house as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. You can most likely find cheaper rates and a licensed agent to work with. If for some reason you want to compare rates from a particular provider, you just need to search and find their rate quote page and give them your coverage information.

Selecting an company requires more thought than just a low price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
• Is working in the agency their full-time job?
• Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
• Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in your state?
• Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
• Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?

If you prefer to buy auto insurance from a reliable insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. agents can be described as either captive agents or independent agents.

Captive Insurance Agencies

These type of agents can only quote rates from one company like Farmers Insurance and State Farm. These agents are not able to compare rates from other companies so always compare other rates. These agents are trained well on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.

Independent Auto Insurance Agencies

Independent insurance agents often have many company appointments so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies and get the cheapest rates. If your agent finds better pricing, they can switch companies in-house and you can keep the same agent. When comparison shopping, you will want to include independent agents so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.

To view insurance agencies in your area, please see this directory of insurance agencies in your state.

Why you might not save $407 a year

Popular auto insurance providers such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all state the claim of big savings if you just switch your auto insurance coverage to their company. How does each company offer you a better deal? Here is how they do it.

All companies have specific characteristics for the type of driver that will not have excessive claims. For example, a driver they prefer may be a married male, has no driving citations, and drives a vehicle with a low ISO rating. A driver who matches those parameters will probably get the lowest rates and have a good chance to save if they switch.

Insureds who fall short of those criteria will have to pay higher rates which results in business going elsewhere. The ads say “drivers that switch” not “all people who quote” save that much. This is how companies can advertise the savings. This emphasizes why drivers should quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates for your situation.

When should I discuss my situation with an agent?

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

• What can I do if my company denied a claim?
• Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
• When should I remove comp and collision on my Volkswagen Vanagon?
• Should I buy more coverage than the required minimum liability coverage?
• How much liability coverage do I need in my state?
• Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
• Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
• Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
• Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Persistent drivers can save

As you prepare to switch companies, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.

Budget-conscious Volkswagen Vanagon insurance is possible both online and from local insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. A few companies don’t offer online quoting and these small, regional companies prefer to sell through independent agencies.