1996 Chevrolet Lumina Minivan Insurance Quotes

No car owner gets a kick out of paying for auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much.

Vehicle owners have so many auto insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s a good thing to have a selection, too many choices makes it more difficult to find the lowest rates.

This article will familiarize you with how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. But consumers should learn the methods companies use to sell insurance online.

Four factors that impact insurance premiums

A large part of saving on insurance coverage is knowing the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for insurance coverage. If you have a feel for what determines premiums, this helps enable you to make changes that can help you get cheaper rates. Many things are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. A few of the factors are predictable like a motor vehicle report, but other criteria are not quite as obvious such as your credit history or your commute time.

The items below are some of the items utilized by car insurance companies to help set your rates.

• Protect yourself with liability insurance – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance is the coverage that protects you if ever a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. This coverage provides legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is pretty cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not cut corners here.
• File policy claims and pay more – If you frequently file small claims, you should expect higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Auto insurance companies generally give cheaper rates to people who file claims infrequently. Your car insurance is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.
• Where you live can impact premiums – Choosing to live in a rural area is a good thing when trying to find low car insurance rates. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accident claims and lower theft and vandalism rates. City drivers have to deal with more auto accidents and longer commute times. More time commuting means a statistically higher chance of an accident.
• Insurance coverage rates and job – Occupations like real estate brokersairline pilots and dentists have higher rates than the rest of us due to intense work-related stress and long work hours. On the flip side, jobs such as scientists, students and homemakers get better rates for Lumina Minivan coverage.

The quickest method to get rate comparisons is to know the trick car insurance companies provide online access to give you rate quotes. All you need to do is give them rating details like if you have a valid license, deductibles desired, marital status, and whether your vehicle is owned or leased. Your details is then sent to many highly-rated insurers and they respond with quotes immediately.

Car insurance myths debunked

Car insurance companies such as State Farm and Allstate consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the companies advertise the message about savings if you change your car insurance policy to them. How do they all make almost identical claims? Here is the trick they use.

Many companies give the best rates for the type of customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a profitable insured might be described as over age 30, has no claims, and has excellent credit. Any driver that fits those parameters will probably get the lowest auto insurance rates and will probably save when switching.

Potential customers who don’t qualify for these criteria will be charged higher rates which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The trick is to say “people that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save that much when switching. This is how companies can truthfully state the savings.

Each company has different criteria, so you really need to get price quotes at each policy renewal. You cannot predict which car insurance company will give you lower auto insurance rates than your current company.

Discount insurance rates

Companies don’t always publicize all available discounts very well, so below is a list some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving when you buy insurance coverage online. If you aren’t receiving every discount available, you could be getting lower rates.

• Home Ownership Discount – Just being a homeowner can earn you a little savings because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Accident Forgiveness – Not a discount per se, but companies like Liberty Mutual and Geico may permit one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don’t have any claims for a certain period of time.
• Discounts for Cautious Drivers – Accident-free drivers could pay up to 40% less for Lumina Minivan coverage compared to accident prone drivers.
• Theft Deterent – Cars and trucks with anti-theft systems are less likely to be stolen and can earn a small discount on your policy.
• Life Insurance – Larger insurance carriers have lower insurancerates if you buy life insurance from them.

A little disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.

The best insurance companies and their offered discounts are detailed below.

• AAA discounts include good driver, good student, education and occupation, multi-policy, pay-in-full, AAA membership discount, and anti-theft.
• Progressive may offer discounts for homeowner, multi-vehicle, online signing, continuous coverage, online quote discount, and good student.
• State Farm has discounts for Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, defensive driving training, good driver, and good student.
• Esurance offers premium reductions for anti-theft, homeowner, safety device, multi-policy, emergency road assistance, good student, and paid-in-full.
• Nationwide may have discounts that include defensive driving, easy pay, business or organization, good student, Farm Bureau membership, and accident-free.

Double check with all companies you are considering which credits you are entitled to. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered in your state.

Tailor your insurance coverage to you

When choosing the best insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions can help discover if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.

• How much liability insurance is required?
• Can I make deliveries for my home business?
• Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
• Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
• Does my 1996 Chevy Lumina Minivan need full coverage?
• Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
• What is an SR-22 filing?
• How high should my medical payments coverage be?
• When should I buy a commercial auto policy?

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

Insurance coverages explained

Understanding the coverages of a insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are typical coverage types available from insurance companies.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses like pain medications, surgery, prosthetic devices, EMT expenses and doctor visits. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Collision coverage protection

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as crashing into a ditch, colliding with another moving vehicle, scraping a guard rail, damaging your car on a curb and rolling your car. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your 1996 Chevy Lumina Minivan.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Coverage for liability

Liability insurance will cover damage that occurs to other people or property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/50 which means a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see a combined limit that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as bail bonds, court costs, emergency aid and attorney fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Comprehensive auto coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from flooding, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

A penny saved is a penny earned

We just presented a lot of information how to compare 1996 Chevy Lumina Minivan insurance car insurance rates online. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your premium rates. You may even find the lowest car insurance rates come from the least-expected company. These companies may have significantly lower premium rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like Progressive and Geico.

There are still a few companies who do not offer rates over the internet and usually these smaller providers prefer to sell through local independent agents. Discount 1996 Chevy Lumina Minivan insurance is attainable on the web as well as from independent agents, and you should compare rates from both to have the best rate selection.

Much more information about insurance coverage can be read at the links below

• Auto Insurance Facts and Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Where can I buy Insurance? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)
• Reducing Your Risks in a Car Crash Video (iihs.org)