Best Insurance for a Dodge Ram 3500 in Fresno

The preferred way to save money on Dodge Ram 3500 insurance in Fresno is to regularly compare price quotes from insurers who sell auto insurance in California.

1. Try to understand how your policy works and the modifications you can make to keep rates in check. Many rating factors that cause rate increases such as high-risk driving behaviors and a less-than-favorable credit score can be eliminated by paying attention to minor details.
2. Request rate estimates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agencies can give you price quotes from multiple sources. Compare rates
3. Compare the price quotes to the premium of your current policy and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you can save money and decide to switch, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
4. Notify your company or agent of your decision to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit a down payment and signed policy application to your new company or agent. Immediately put the new proof of insurance paperwork along with your vehicle registration.

A valuable tip to remember is to use the same deductibles and limits on every price quote and and to get quotes from all possible companies. Doing this guarantees a level playing field and plenty of rates choose from.

Sad but true, a large majority of auto insurance policyholders have purchased from the same company for more than four years, and 38% of customers have never even compared rates from other companies. California insurance shoppers can cut their rates by as much as 35% a year, but they assume it’s a waste of time to shop around.

Why You Might Pay Lower Rates in Fresno

Many things are taken into consideration when you get your auto insurance bill. A few of the factors are predictable such as your driving history, but other criteria are more transparent like your vehicle usage or your financial responsibility.

The itemized list below are some of the factors that factor into your premiums.

• Liability protection risk factors – Your insurance policy’s liability coverage kicks in when you are determined to be liable for damages caused by your negligence. It provides you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
• Married drivers pay lower premiums – Walking down the aisle can actually save you money on your policy. Having a spouse usually means you are more mature and responsible and statistics show married couples file fewer claims.
• Only buy add-on coverages you need – Insurance companies have many add-on coverages that can add up on your insurance policy. Insurance for things like replacement cost coverage, high-cost glass coverage, and membership fees are some examples. They may seem good initially, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.
• Your job is a factor – Do you have a high-stress occupation? Jobs such as doctors, architects, and accountants usually pay higher average rates in part from intense work situations and long work days. Other professions such as scientists, students and performers pay lower than average rates.

• Male costs may be higher – Statistics have proven that females take fewer risks when driving. It does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes are in fender benders in similar percentages, but the males have accidents that have higher claims. Men also statistically get ticketed for serious violations such as reckless driving.

  The illustration below illustrates the difference between Dodge Ram 3500 insurance rates for male and female drivers. Data assumes no claims or driving citations, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.

• Vehicles with better crash test results are cheaper to insure – Safe vehicles cost less to insure. Safer cars protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates directly to fewer claims and cheaper rates on your policy.

• The type of car, truck or SUV you drive affects your rates – The make and model of the car you are insuring makes a big difference in the rate you pay. Smaller low performance passenger cars usually have the lowest premiums, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.

  The following data uses these variables: single male driver age 40, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Dodge Ram 3500 insurance rates compared to other makes and models that have a range of risk factors.

• Traffic violations will cost you – Having just one speeding ticket can increase rates by as much as twenty percent. Attentive drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers unfortunate enough to have careless citations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may face state-mandated requirements to prove financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent their license from being revoked.

  The information below highlights how traffic violations and accident claims can affect Dodge Ram 3500 insurance prices for different age categories. The data assumes a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Rates and information analytics

The price information below outlines different insurance prices for Dodge Ram 3500 models. Being able to understand how insurance prices are established helps drivers make smart choices when buying a car insurance policy.

Data assumes married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy. Rates do not factor in Fresno location which can raise or lower price quotes considerably.

Deductible comparison

One frequently asked question is which deductible level should you buy. The rates below can help you understand the rate difference when you choose different deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 physical damage deductible and the second set of prices uses a $500 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can lower or raise coverage prices significantly.

Based on this data, using a $100 deductible costs roughly $39 more each month or $468 a year averaged for all Ram 3500 models than buying the higher $500 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $400 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to average more than 10 months between claims, you would save money by selecting a higher deductible.

Verify you’re earning every discount

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you might be missing out on some discounts to help bring down the price. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at quote time, but some need to be asked for prior to getting the savings. If you do not double check each discount you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Lower Rates for Military – Being on active deployment in the military could mean lower premium rates.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give a small discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
• Senior Discount – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for lower premium rates.
• Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down on your Dodge may allow you to get lower premium rates due to less chance of an accident.
• Home Ownership Discount – Owning your own home or condo can help you save on car insurance because owning a home requires a higher level of personal finance.

Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given the whole policy. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you could get a free car insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way. But all discounts will help reduce your policy cost.

The chart below shows the comparison of Dodge Ram 3500 annual premium costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The costs are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-car, marriage, and homeowner discounts applied.

To choose car insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in California, click here to view.

Smart shoppers get results

You just learned quite a bit of information on how to compare Dodge Ram 3500 insurance premium rates in Fresno. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the best premium rates are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give better rates as compared to the big name companies such as GEICO and State Farm.

When shopping online for auto insurance, you should never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many cases where someone dropped collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

Helpful resources

• Crash Avoidance Technologies FAQ (iihs.org)
• What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Fresno? (FAQ)
• Which Company has the Cheapest Auto Insurance in Fresno, California? (FAQ)
• Pickups fall short in headlight tests (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Electronic Stability Control FAQ (iihs.org)