How to Save on Dodge Journey Insurance in Stockton

Dodge Journey insurance image courtesy of QuoteInspector.com

Anyone knows that auto insurance companies want to keep you from comparing prices. Consumers who shop around once a year are very likely to switch companies because there is a good probability of finding coverage at a more affordable price. A study discovered that people who regularly shopped around saved as much as $865 a year compared to policyholders who never shopped around for lower prices.

If finding the lowest price on Dodge Journey insurance in Stockton is the reason for your visit, then understanding how to find companies and compare insurance coverage can save time, money, and frustration.

If you want to save money, the best way to get discount Dodge Journey insurance is to compare quotes annually from insurers that insure vehicles in Stockton. You can compare rates by following these guidelines.

1. Spend a few minutes and learn about how companies price auto insurance and the measures you can take to prevent high rates. Many policy risk factors that cause high rates such as traffic citations and a bad credit rating can be eliminated by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. Read the full article for more details to find cheap prices and find additional discounts you may qualify for.
2. Request rate estimates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide prices for a wide range of insurance providers.
3. Compare the new quotes to your existing policy to determine if you can save on Journey insurance. If you find a better price and change companies, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.

The key thing to remember is to compare the same liability limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to get prices from as many different companies as possible. This provides a fair price comparison and a complete selection of prices.

How to buy Stockton Dodge Journey insurance online

Finding a lower price on Dodge Journey insurance doesn't have to be difficult. The only thing you need to do is take time comparing rates to find out which insurance company has the cheapest Dodge Journey rate quotes.

The companies shown below can provide free quotes in California. If more than one company is shown, it's highly recommended you visit as many as you can to get the lowest price.

Insurance analysis for a Dodge Journey

The premium table shown below outlines estimates of insurance prices for Dodge Journey models. Being more informed about how rate quotes are calculated helps drivers make informed decisions.

Premium data assumes married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can impact price quotes considerably.

Policy deductible comparison

One of the hardest decisions when shopping for insurance is how low should you set your deductibles. The following insurance rates can help show the rate fluctuation between low and high insurance deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price grid uses a $500 deductible.

Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, and claim-free. Information does not factor in zip code location which can impact coverage rates greatly.

Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $250 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $17 more each month or $204 each year than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $250 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average at least 15 months between claim filings, you would save more money going with the higher deductible. The illustration below shows a better example of how you can decide this on your own policy.

One big caveat is that raising deductibles to save money means you will have to pay more when you have a physical damage claim. You need enough extra money in the event you need to pay the deductible.

Insurance cost for men versus women in Stockton

The chart below illustrates the difference between Dodge Journey insurance premiums for male and female drivers. The premium estimates are based on a clean driving record, no claims, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.

Rate comparison of full coverage and liability-only

The information below illustrates the comparison of Dodge Journey insurance costs when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The premiums are based on no claims or violations, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.

When to stop buying physical damage coverage

There isn't a steadfast formula to exclude physical damage insurance, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is about 10% or more of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it's probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

For example, let's say your Dodge Journey settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, you would only receive $6,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are paying more than $600 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

There are some scenarios where buying only liability insurance is not recommended. If you haven't satisfied your loan, you have to maintain full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.

Why you need insurance for your Journey

Despite the fact that car insurance is not cheap in Stockton, paying for car insurance is a good idea for several reasons.

First, almost all states have minimum liability requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific level of liability if you don't want to risk a ticket. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.

Second, if you have a loan on your vehicle, more than likely the lender will stipulate that you have insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank may buy a policy for your Dodge at a significantly higher premium and force you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.

Third, car insurance preserves not only your Dodge Journey but also your financial assets. It will also cover medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to repair the damage.

The benefits of having car insurance greatly outweigh the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. Today the average American driver is overpaying more than $869 every year so we recommend shopping around every year to ensure rates are inline.

Informed Consumers Can Reduce Their Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating the level of your policy premiums. If you have some idea of what impacts premium levels, this helps enable you to make changes that may result in better car insurance rates.

The list below includes some of the major factors companies use to determine your prices.

Your age impacts your prices - Older, more experienced drivers tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents, and are safer drivers. Inexperience drivers tend to be inattentive and easily distracted when behind the wheel and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.

The following chart uses these variables: single driver, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.

Traffic violations inflate costs - Whether or not you get tickets has a huge affect on how much you pay. Having a single driving citation can increase rates substantially. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers with severe tickets such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to legally drive a vehicle.

The illustration below demonstrates how traffic citations and at-fault fender-benders influence Dodge Journey insurance costs for different age groups of insureds. The premiums are based on a married female driver, full coverage, $250 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.

Fast cars cost more to insure - The make and model of the car you own makes a significant difference in how high your rates are. The most favorable rates will normally be found when insuring the lowest performance passenger models, but that's not the only thing that factors into the final price.

The following data uses these assumptions: married male driver age 40, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It compares Dodge Journey car insurance rates compared to other vehicles that have a range of risk factors.

Know your credit history - Credit rating is a large factor in determining premium rates. If your credit score can be improved, you could save money insuring your Dodge Journey by improving your credit score. People that have very good credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with lower credit scores.

Dodge Journey claim probability - Companies use claims history to help determine the rate you pay. Models that statistically have high amounts or severity of claims will have a higher premium rate. The table shown below demonstrates the collected loss data for Dodge Journey vehicles.

For each insurance policy coverage type, the claim probability for all vehicles averaged together is considered to be 100. Values under 100 indicate better than average losses, while numbers above 100 point to more claims or larger claims.

Cheap Stockton insurance quotes with discounts

Companies don't always list the complete list of policy discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following list contains both the well known as well as the least known credits available to bring down your rates.

• Accident Free - Insureds with no claims or accidents pay much less when compared to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
• Early Renewal Discounts - Some larger companies reward drivers for switching policies before your current coverage expires. You could save around 10% when you buy Stockton auto insurance online.
• Paperwork-free - A few larger online companies provide a small discount for buying a policy and signing up online.
• Telematics Data Discounts - Drivers who elect to allow data collection to analyze driving patterns through the use of a telematics system like Allstate's Drivewise may see discounts as long as the data is positive.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles equipped with air bags may qualify for discounts as much as 30%.
• Resident Student - Kids who live away from home to go to college without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.
• Seat Belt Discounts - Requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save a little on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Good Student - Being a good student may save you up to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up to age 25.
• Multi-line Discount - Not all companies offer life insurance, but some may give you a small discount if you purchase life insurance.
• Clubs and Organizations - Having an affiliation with qualifying employment or professional organizations may earn a discount on your next insurance statement.

You can save money using discounts, but most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, it's just not the way it works. Any qualifying discounts should definitely cut the cost of coverage.

The information below shows the comparison of Dodge Journey annual premium costs with and without discounts. The premiums assume a male driver, no claims or violations, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-car, and claim-free discounts applied.

Companies and some of their more popular discounts can be read below.

• State Farm discounts include multiple policy, good driver, student away at school, driver's education, accident-free, and passive restraint.
• Farmers Insurance has savings for homeowner, good student, pay in full, early shopping, business and professional, and electronic funds transfer.
• Progressive has discounts for online signing, online quote discount, multi-policy, good student, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and continuous coverage.
• GEICO offers premium reductions for five-year accident-free, seat belt use, federal employee, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, membership and employees, and emergency military deployment.
• Auto-Owners Insurance offers discounts including multi-policy, company car, good student, teen driver, safe driver, and anti-lock brakes.
• The Hartford includes discounts for vehicle fuel type, air bag, anti-theft, good student, and bundle.
• Farm Bureau may have discounts that include driver training, multi-vehicle, youthful driver, renewal discount, and good student.
• USAA may offer discounts for multi-policy, vehicle storage, annual mileage, good student, military installation, multi-vehicle, and defensive driver.

If you are trying to find low cost Stockton auto insurance quotes, ask each insurance company which discounts you qualify for. Some credits may not be offered in Stockton. For a list of insurers that offer multiple discounts in Stockton, follow this link.

When do I need an agent's advice?

When selecting your policy for your vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Every insured's situation is different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions can help discover whether you could use an agent's help.

• Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
• If my pet gets injured in an accident are they covered?
• Is my Dodge Journey covered for smoke damage?
• What if an uninsured driver hits me?
• How much liability coverage do I need in California?
• Do I have coverage if I rent a car in Mexico?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Local neighborhood insurance agents

Some people just prefer to get advice from a local agent and that can be a great decision Insurance agents can help you build your policy and give you someone to call. One of the best bonuses of getting free rate quotes online is that drivers can save money and get the best rates and still buy from a local agent. Putting coverage with neighborhood insurance agencies is especially important in Stockton.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, the quote information is submitted to agents in your area that can give you free Stockton auto insurance quotes to get your business. You never need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. If you want to compare rates for a specific company, you just need to find their quoting web page and give them your coverage information.

Insurance agent types

When searching for a local Stockton insurance agency, you should know the types of insurance agents from which to choose. Insurance agents are either exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments. Both types of agents can do a good job, but we need to point out why they differ since it could factor into buying decisions.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Agents that choose to be independent do not work for one specific company and that gives them the ability to insure with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, they can switch companies in-house and you can keep the same agent.

If you are comparing insurance prices, we recommend you compare prices from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from. Many independent agencies also insure through small regional insurance companies that many times have cheaper rates.

Listed below are independent insurance agencies in Stockton who can help you get free rate quotes.

• Rangel Insurance
  6025 Pacific Ave - Stockton, CA 95207 - (209) 474-7777 - View Map
• Stockton Insurance Services
  1407 E Miner Ave - Stockton, CA 95205 - (209) 941-4444 - View Map
• C.Chuck Taylor Insurance Agency
  9210 Thornton Rd # 5 - Stockton, CA 95209 - (209) 477-2234 - View Map

View more agents

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

Agents that elect to be exclusive normally can only provide a single company's rates like American Family, State Farm, and AAA. Exclusive agents cannot provide other company's prices so always compare other rates. Exclusive agents are usually well trained on their company's products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers often choose to use an exclusive agent mostly because of the prominent brand name rather than having low rates.

Below is a short list of exclusive insurance agents in Stockton that are able to give price quotes.

• Farmers Insurance: Paula Ortiz
  4550 N Pershing Ave #3 - Stockton, CA 95207 - (209) 956-3988 - View Map
• Farmers Insurance - Russell Steele
  829 Rosemarie Ln i - Stockton, CA 95207 - (209) 956-8561 - View Map
• Wandy Siam - State Farm Insurance Agent
  4410 N Pershing Ave, Ste C7 - Stockton, CA 95207 - (209) 477-5511 - View Map

View more agents

Choosing the best car insurance agent requires more thought than just the quoted price. Before buying a policy in Stockton, get answers to these questions.

• Are they full-time agents?
• By raising physical damage deductibles, how much would you save?
• Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in Stockton?
• Where are claims handled?
• If they are an independent agency in Stockton, which companies do they recommend?

Cover all your bases

As you prepare to switch companies, it's a bad idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Lower-priced insurance in Stockton can be found online and from local insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers may not offer rate quotes online and usually these regional carriers only sell through local independent agencies.

You just read a lot of information how to get a better price on Dodge Journey insurance in Stockton. It's most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of getting affordable Stockton auto insurance quotes. You may even find the lowest premium rates are with an unexpected company. Some small companies can often provide lower prices in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive and GEICO.

More articles

• Front crash protection reduces rear-end crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Uber Drivers in Stockton? (FAQ)
• Reducing Your Risks in a Car Crash Video (iihs.org)
• Vehicle Safety Ratings (iihs.org)
• Self-driving cars won't replace humans (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Help Your Teen Be a Better Driver (State Farm)