Do you need a better way to compare more competitive insurance rates in Austin, TX? Austin buyers have a choice when searching for the best price on Dodge Caliber insurance. You can either spend your time calling around trying to get quotes or use the internet to compare rates. There is a better way to buy insurance so we’re going to tell you the proper way to quote coverages on a Dodge and find the lowest possible price from Austin insurance agents and online providers.
Buying the cheapest car insurance in Austin is actually quite simple. If you have coverage now, you will be able to find better prices using the ideas you’re about to read. Vehicle owners only have to learn the quickest way to compare different rates online.
Dodge Caliber Insurance Premiums Can Be More Affordable
One of the most helpful ways to save on auto insurance is to to have a grasp of the rating factors that are used to determine your policy premiums. If you understand what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower rates. Multiple criteria are used when you get your auto insurance bill. A few of the factors are predictable such as traffic violations, but other criteria are not quite as obvious like your vehicle usage and annual miles driven.
The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine your rate level.
- Does insurance cost less for women? – Statistics show that females tend to be a little less risky than males. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Males and females tend to get into at-fault accidents in similar percentages, but guys have costlier accidents. Men also get higher numbers of serious violations like DWI (DUI) or reckless driving.
- What are your deductibles? – The deductibles tell how much you are required to pay if you file a covered claim. Protection for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some examples of covered claims are a windshield broken by a bird, damage caused by hail, and having a roll-over accident. The more of the claim you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the better rate you will receive.
- What’s your car’s IIHS safety rating? – Safe vehicles tend to have lower insurance rates. Highly rated vehicles reduce the chance of injuries and lower injury rates means less money paid by your insurance company and cheaper rates on your policy. If your Dodge Caliber is rated at a minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website you may be receiving a better rate.
- Performance impacts premiums – The performance of the car, truck or SUV you are insuring makes a substantial difference in your premium level. The most favorable rates are usually found on economy passenger vehicles, but many other things help determine your insurance rates. Since the Dodge Caliber is a passenger car, insurance will be similar in price or lower as compared to the average rate in Austin.
- Insurance is expensive for teen drivers – Older insureds are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims, and are safer drivers.Youthful drivers are statistically proven to be less responsible behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates.
- Liability risk factors in – Liability coverage will protect you when you are ruled to be at fault for physical damage or personal injury to other. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court which can cost a lot. It is affordable coverage compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so insureds should have plenty of protection for their assets.
- Always keep your coverage in force – Driving without insurance is a big no-no and any future policy may cost more because you let your insurance expire. Not only will you pay higher rates, failure to provide proof of insurance can result in fines or a revoked license. You may have to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Texas motor vehicle department.
Dodge Caliber insurance quotes comparison
The providers in the list below provide price comparisons in Texas. If multiple providers are shown, we recommend you click on several of them to get the most competitive price.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caliber Express | $208 | $400 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,126 | $94 |
Caliber Heat | $156 | $358 | $462 | $28 | $138 | $1,142 | $95 |
Caliber SE | $252 | $570 | $462 | $28 | $138 | $1,450 | $121 |
Caliber Mainstreet | $326 | $592 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,598 | $133 |
Caliber Rush | $204 | $460 | $462 | $28 | $138 | $1,292 | $108 |
Caliber SXT | $144 | $288 | $392 | $24 | $118 | $966 | $81 |
Caliber Uptown | $162 | $340 | $366 | $22 | $110 | $1,000 | $83 |
Caliber R/T | $254 | $602 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,440 | $120 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data represents single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Table data does not factor in Austin location which can affect premium rates noticeably.
Dodge Caliber full coverage rates compared to liability only
The information below shows the difference between Dodge Caliber insurance prices with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The costs are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $500 deductibles, single male driver, and no policy discounts are applied.
Are you wasting money on full coverage?
There isn’t a steadfast formula to stop paying for full coverage, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of coverage is more than 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s say your Dodge Caliber replacement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would receive is $4,000 after paying your policy deductible. If you are paying more than $400 annually to have full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some situations where buying only liability insurance is not a good idea. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not opt for liability only.
Raise deductibles and save
When shopping for auto insurance, a common question is which deductibles should you choose. The tables below highlight how much more you’ll pay when you select higher and lower policy deductibles. The first table uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caliber Express | $256 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,295 | $108 |
Caliber Heat | $256 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,295 | $108 |
Caliber SE | $256 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,295 | $108 |
Caliber Mainstreet | $256 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,295 | $108 |
Caliber Rush | $256 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,295 | $108 |
Caliber SXT | $256 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,295 | $108 |
Caliber Uptown | $256 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,295 | $108 |
Caliber R/T | $294 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,421 | $118 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caliber Express | $158 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $988 | $82 |
Caliber Heat | $158 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $988 | $82 |
Caliber SE | $158 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $988 | $82 |
Caliber Mainstreet | $158 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $988 | $82 |
Caliber Rush | $158 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $988 | $82 |
Caliber SXT | $158 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $988 | $82 |
Caliber Uptown | $158 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $988 | $82 |
Caliber R/T | $182 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,068 | $89 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Prices do not factor in Austin location which can modify prices greatly.
We can estimate from the data above that using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $26 more each month or $312 for a full year than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $750 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average more than 29 months between claims, you would probably be better off if you elect the higher deductible.
How to determine when to raise deductibles
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $109 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $83 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $26 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $26 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 29 months |
Be skeptical of insurance ads
Consumers in Texas can’t ignore all the ads that claim the cheapest premium rates by State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all tend to make the same promise that people will save if you change your policy.
It sounds good, but how can they all give you a lower rate on Dodge Caliber insurance in Austin? This is the way they can do it.
Insurance companies quote their best rates for the type of customer that earns them a profit. One example of a preferred risk might be described as a married male, owns their home, and insures a new vehicle. A customer who meets those qualifications receives the best rates in Austin and as a result will probably save a lot on Austin Dodge Caliber insurance if they switch.
Insureds who are not a match for these standards will have to pay higher rates with the end result being the customer not purchasing. The trick is to say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. That’s why insurance companies can confidently make it sound like they have such great prices. Because of the profiling, it’s extremely important to compare many company’s prices. It is just not possible to predict with any certainty which company will have the lowest premium rates for your situation.
Auto insurance does more than just protect your car
Even though it can be expensive, paying for auto insurance is required by state law in Texas and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.
- Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a specific minimum amount of liability protection if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In Texas these limits are 30/60/25 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you took out a loan on your vehicle, almost every bank will require that you have physical damage coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may insure your Dodge at a much higher rate and force you to pay for the much more expensive policy.
- Auto insurance protects not only your car but also your assets. It will also provide coverage for medical transport and hospital expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance also covers legal expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, your policy will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of insuring your car definitely exceed the price paid, particularly when you have a large claim. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver overpays more than $825 a year so compare rates at every policy renewal to ensure rates are inline.
Affordable rates on Dodge Caliber insurance in Austin with these discounts
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but occasionally some discounts must be specifically requested prior to receiving the credit.
- Homeowners Savings – Just owning your own home can help you save on car insurance since owning and maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
- Distant College Student Discount – Youth drivers who are enrolled in higher education away from home and do not take a car to college may be insured at a cheaper rate.
- Braking Control Discount – Vehicles that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are much safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Student Discounts – Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last until age 25.
- No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents are rewarded with significantly better rates on Austin auto insurance quote in comparison to accident-prone drivers.
- Discount for Multiple Policies – When you combine your homeowners and auto insurance with one company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
Discounts lower rates, but some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.
Some companies that may have these money-saving discounts include:
Before purchasing a policy, check with each insurance company which discounts they offer. All car insurance discounts may not apply to policyholders in your area. For a list of car insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in Texas, click here.
Insurance agent or online?
A small number of people still prefer to talk to an insurance agent and that is a smart decision Insurance agents can make sure you are properly covered and give you someone to call. One of the benefits of comparing rate quotes online is the fact that you can find lower rates but also keep your business local.
To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, your coverage information is submitted to participating agents in Austin that can provide free Austin auto insurance quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t need to search for an agent since rate quotes are delivered directly to you. If you want to compare prices from a particular provider, you just need to find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
Picking the best provider should depend on more than just the price. These are valid questions to ask:
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- Do they see any coverage gaps in your plan?
- Do they get paid more for recommending certain coverages?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- How would your car be valued if totalled?
- Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
Two different types of auto insurance agents
If you want to use a reliable insurance agent, it can be helpful to understand the types of insurance agents and how they operate. Car insurance agents are considered either exclusive agents or independent agents. Either type can sell car insurance policies, but it’s worth mentioning the difference in how they write coverage since it can affect the kind of agent you use.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agencies
Agents of this type write business for a single company such as AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agencies are unable to give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. These agents are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates. Consumers frequently choose to use a exclusive agent partially due to the prominence of the brand rather than having low rates.
The following is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Austin that can give you rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance: Homero Escobar
730 W Stassney Ln Ste 230 – Austin, TX 78745 – (512) 443-9598 – View Map - Jane McQuiggin-Hutson – State Farm Insurance Agent
2307 W Parmer Ln – Austin, TX 78727 – (512) 973-8501 – View Map - State Farm: Charlie Anderson
12710 Research Blvd #210 – Austin, TX 78759 – (512) 258-2231 – View Map
Independent Agents
These type of agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If they find a lower price, your agent can just switch to a different company and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When searching for an agent, we highly recommend that you get rate quotes from independent agents for maximum quote selection. They often place coverage with smaller mutual companies that may have much lower rates than larger companies.
Below are independent agents in Austin willing to provide comparison quotes.
- Time Insurance Agency
1405 E Riverside Dr – Austin, TX 78741 – (512) 447-7773 – View Map - Greater Austin Insurance Inc
11824 Jollyville Rd # 202 – Austin, TX 78759 – (512) 250-1777 – View Map - Danback Insurance Agency
8312 Burnet Rd #115 – Austin, TX 78757 – (512) 454-4567 – View Map
Situations that may require an agent’s advice
When choosing the right insurance coverage, there is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique and your insurance should unique, too.
For example, these questions might point out if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
- How can I get the company to pay a claim?
- How much cheaper are high deductibles?
- What if a claim settlement is too low?
- Does every company file a SR-22 automatically?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Compare. Compare. Compare.
When searching for the cheapest Dodge Caliber rate quotes, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your objective should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
We covered many ideas to find lower-cost Dodge Caliber insurance in Austin. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may even discover the most savings is with a small mutual company. These companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates compared to the large companies like Progressive and GEICO.
More affordable auto insurance in Austin can be sourced online and from local agencies, so you need to quote Austin auto insurance with both to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer price quotes online and these regional carriers sell through local independent agents.
Even more information can be found in the articles below:
- Top Signs Your Brakes are Giving Out (State Farm)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for a Ford Escape in Austin? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a 20 Year Old Male in Austin? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for a Chevrolet Equinox in Austin? (FAQ)
- How Much are Austin Car Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Camry? (FAQ)
- Insuring a Leased Car (Insurance Information Institute)
- Electronic Stability Control FAQ (iihs.org)