Insurance Prices Decline for Dodge Caravan Drivers

I can’t think of anyone who rejoices having to buy car insurance, especially when they could lower their rates if they shopped around. With drivers having so many options, it’s nearly impossible to choose the lowest cost insurer.

It’s smart to do rate comparisons as often as possible because prices change quite often. Even if you think you had the lowest rates on Caravan insurance on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate quote today. There is a lot of wrong information about car insurance online but I’m going to show you some proven techniques to lower your car insurance rates.

How Insurance Companies Calculate Dodge Caravan Insurance Prices

It’s important that you understand some of the things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates, this enables you to make decisions that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

The list below includes some of the things used by insurance companies to determine premiums.

• Car insurance policy lapses lead to higher car insurance rates – Driving your car without having proper coverage is not a good idea and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage lapse. In addition to paying higher rates, failure to provide proof of insurance could earn you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license.
• Safety ratings are a factor – Safe vehicles cost less to insure. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates. If your Dodge Caravan has at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website it is probably cheaper to insure.
• An active car insurance claims history can cost you more – Car insurance companies award the best rates to insureds who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for claims that you cannot pay yourself.
• Commute or pleasure use – The more miles you rack up on your Dodge each year the higher your rate. Many insurance companies rate vehicles based on their usage. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting cost less to insure than cars that get driven a lot. Ask your agent if your vehicle rating reflects how each vehicle is driven. Incorrect rating for your Caravan may be costing you.
• Insurance premiums and vehicle performance – The make and model of the vehicle you are trying to find cheaper insurance for makes a significant difference in your car insurance bill. The lowest premiums are generally reserved for the lowest performance passenger vehicles, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors. Since the Dodge Caravan falls in the van and minivan class, rates will be similar in price as compared to the average rate.
• Job stress can make you pay more – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Jobs such as fire fightersair traffic controllers and miners generally pay higher rates than the rest of us because of job stress and extremely grueling work hours. Other careers like actors, engineers and homemakers get better rates on Caravan insurance.
• Youthful vs. older drivers – Inexperience drivers are known to be more careless with other occupants in the car so they pay higher car insurance rates. Older, more experienced drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
• Your address can affect price – Having an address in a rural area is a good thing when trying to find low car insurance rates. City drivers have to deal with traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Fewer drivers means fewer accidents in addition to fewer liability claims.

There are a lot of ways to shop for car insurance, but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You can waste a few hours (or days) driving to agents in your area, or you can stay home and use online quotes to get prices fast.

Many popular insurance companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to submit their information once, and each company then gives them pricing based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms to each individual car insurance company.

To participate in this free quote system, click here to open in new window.

The one downside to using this type of system is you don’t know exactly which providers you will receive quotes from. If you would rather choose specific providers to compare rates, we have a page of low cost car insurance companies in your area. Click to view list.

The method you choose is up to you, but be certain you are entering identical quote data for each quote you get. If the quotes have different values for each quote it will be impossible to truly determine the lowest rate. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits could skew the results. And when comparison shopping, comparing all the rates in your area increases your odds of finding the best rates. Some companies don’t provide quotes online, so it’s necessary to compare rates from them as well.

Cheap car insurance quotes with discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise the complete list of policy discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so below is a list a few of the more common as well as some of the hidden discounts that you can inquire about if you .

• Memberships – Joining a qualifying organization can get you a small discount on your policy.
• ABS Brakes – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents so you can save 10 percent or more.
• Auto/Home Discount – If you combine your homeowners and auto policies with the same company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.
• Employee of Federal Government – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could provide a small rate reduction on Caravan insurance depending on your car insurance provider.
• Low Miles Discount – Maintaining low annual mileage can qualify you for cheaper premium rates.
• Discount for New Cars – Insuring a vehicle that is new may earn a small discount because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for several vehicles on a single policy can get a discount on all vehicles.

Just know that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck. But all discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

A few popular companies and some of their more popular discounts are:

• State Farm offers discounts including multiple policy, Drive Safe & Save, defensive driving training, student away at school, multiple autos, and driver’s education.
• Farmers Insurance may have discounts that include bundle discounts, good student, homeowner, switch companies, distant student, and alternative fuel.
• GEICO may offer discounts for multi-vehicle, federal employee, multi-policy, driver training, and air bags.
• American Family discounts include good student, air bags, bundled insurance, multi-vehicle, defensive driver, and Steer into Savings.
• Nationwide has savings for multi-policy, defensive driving, Farm Bureau membership, anti-theft, accident-free, good student, and easy pay.
• Progressive offers premium reductions for online quote discount, multi-vehicle, online signing, homeowner, multi-policy, and continuous coverage.

When getting , it’s a good idea to each company how many discounts you can get. Some credits might not be offered on policies in every state. To see insurance companies that offer the discounts shown above, click here.

Compare but don’t skimp

The cheapest Dodge Caravan insurance is possible from both online companies and with local insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies may not provide online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

When getting , it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that it was a big error on their part. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, but do not skimp to save money.