The easiest way to find better pricing on car insurance rates is to compare prices once a year from insurers in Portland. Drivers can shop around by completing these steps.
- It will benefit you to learn about the coverage provided by your policy and the measures you can control to prevent high rates. Many policy risk factors that are responsible for high rates such as tickets, at-fault accidents, and a not-so-good credit history can be rectified by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. This article gives more ideas to prevent expensive rate increases and get additional discounts that may be available.
- Request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can quote prices for a wide range of insurance providers. Compare rates
- Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate and decide to switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
- Provide notification to your current company of your intention to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit a down payment and signed policy application to your new agent or company. As soon as you have the new policy, place your new certificate verifying coverage in an easily accessible location.
An important note is to make sure you enter identical coverages on each quote and and to get rate quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this guarantees a fair price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
A recent car insurance study revealed that over 70% of Oregon drivers kept their policy with the same company for over three years, and just under half have never even compared rates from other companies. Most drivers in America could save as much as 46.5% each year, but they don’t believe the rate savings if they switched.
Five Things That Affect Your Insurance Prices
Part of the insurance buying process is learning a few of the rating criteria that go into determining the rates you pay for insurance. If you understand what impacts premium levels, this enables you to make decisions that could result in lower rates. Many things are part of the calculation when pricing auto insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious like an MVR report, but other criteria are not quite as obvious like where you live and annual miles driven.
- No insurance claims equals cheaper insurance rates – If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you can expect higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Companies in Oregon award most affordable rates to people who file claims infrequently. Your insurance policy is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
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Accidents can be expensive – A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even a single driving citation may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who get dangerous tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to maintain a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
The example below demonstrates how traffic citations and accidents impact Dodge Nitro auto insurance costs for different age groups. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
- Credit score impacts premiums – Your credit rating is a large factor in determining what you pay for insurance. Drivers with high credit scores tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower credit scores. If your credit rating is lower than you’d like, you could potentially save money when insuring your Dodge Nitro by improving your credit score.
- Small coverages can add up – There are many extra bells and whistles that sound like a good idea at the time if you aren’t diligent. Coverage for things like roadside assistance, better glass coverage, and extra life insurance coverage are some examples. You may think they are a good idea when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
- Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Most companies allow better rates to policyholders that purchase more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. The discount can be five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you already get this discount, you may still want to get quotes from other companies to guarantee you are still saving the most.
Rates and information analytics
The information displayed next showcases estimates of insurance costs for Dodge Nitro models. Having a better idea how rate quotes are formulated can help drivers make informed decisions when shopping around for a new policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Nitro Heat 2WD | $274 | $408 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,324 | $110 |
Nitro SE 2WD | $274 | $408 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,324 | $110 |
Nitro SE 4WD | $314 | $408 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,364 | $114 |
Nitro SXT 2WD | $314 | $408 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,364 | $114 |
Nitro Heat 4WD | $314 | $408 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,364 | $114 |
Nitro Detonator 2WD | $314 | $496 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,452 | $121 |
Nitro SXT 4WD | $314 | $496 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,452 | $121 |
Nitro Shock 2WD | $314 | $496 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,452 | $121 |
Nitro Detonator 4WD | $314 | $496 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,452 | $121 |
Nitro Shock 4WD | $354 | $496 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,492 | $124 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Cost estimates assume single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Oregon minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, and claim-free. Rate quotes do not factor in specific zip code location which can revise premiums greatly.
Physical damage deductible comparison
One frequently asked question is at what level do you set your deductibles. The premium rates below can help you understand the cost difference when you choose different physical damage deductibles. The first table uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Nitro Heat 2WD | $216 | $342 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,075 | $90 |
Nitro SE 2WD | $216 | $342 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,075 | $90 |
Nitro SE 4WD | $246 | $342 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,105 | $92 |
Nitro SXT 2WD | $246 | $342 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,105 | $92 |
Nitro Heat 4WD | $246 | $342 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,105 | $92 |
Nitro Detonator 2WD | $246 | $416 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,179 | $98 |
Nitro SXT 4WD | $246 | $416 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,179 | $98 |
Nitro Shock 2WD | $246 | $416 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,179 | $98 |
Nitro Detonator 4WD | $246 | $416 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,179 | $98 |
Nitro Shock 4WD | $278 | $416 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,211 | $101 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nitro Heat 2WD | $132 | $216 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $840 | $70 |
Nitro SE 2WD | $132 | $216 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $840 | $70 |
Nitro SE 4WD | $152 | $216 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $860 | $72 |
Nitro SXT 2WD | $152 | $216 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $860 | $72 |
Nitro Heat 4WD | $152 | $216 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $860 | $72 |
Nitro Detonator 2WD | $152 | $262 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $906 | $76 |
Nitro SXT 4WD | $152 | $262 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $906 | $76 |
Nitro Shock 2WD | $152 | $262 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $906 | $76 |
Nitro Detonator 4WD | $152 | $262 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $906 | $76 |
Nitro Shock 4WD | $172 | $262 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $926 | $77 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Oregon minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and multi-policy. Premium amounts do not factor in specific garaging location which can lower or raise premiums greatly.
Based on the figures above, using a $250 deductible costs approximately $21 more each month or $252 a year than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to go at least 36 months between claims, you would more than likely save some money if you decide on a higher deductible.
Rate comparison of male drivers versus female drivers
The illustration below shows the comparison of Dodge Nitro auto insurance costs for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on no violations or claims, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Car insurance discounts are available to lower rates
Car insurance companies do not advertise every policy discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down both well-publicized as well as the least known credits available to bring down your rates.
- Pay Early and Save – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
- Multi-policy Discount – When you combine your auto and homeowners insurance with one insurance company you will save up to 20% off your total Nitro insurance premium.
- Renewal Discounts – A few insurance companies offer discounts for buying a new policy prior to your current Nitro insurance policy expiring. The savings is around 10%.
- Discounts for New Vehicles – Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% since newer vehicles have better safety ratings.
- Drivers Education – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them successfully take a driver’s education course as it can save substantially.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
- Organization Discounts – Belonging to certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on your next renewal.
- Good Drivers – Accident-free drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than less cautious drivers.
Just know that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Even though it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
The information below illustrates the difference between Dodge Nitro car insurance costs with and without policy discounts. Data assumes a male driver, no violations or claims, Oregon 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 multi-car, safe-driver, marriage, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Popular car insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts can be found below.
- GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including air bags, multi-policy, emergency military deployment, five-year accident-free, anti-lock brakes, and anti-theft.
- Mercury Insurance offers discounts for multi-policy, type of vehicle, professional/association, anti-theft, good student, ease of repair, and multi-car.
- Farmers Insurance includes discounts for good student, teen driver, homeowner, electronic funds transfer, and mature driver.
- Auto-Owners Insurance may have discounts that include anti-lock brakes, mature driver, safe vehicle, student away at school, company car, paid in full, and safe driver.
- Liberty Mutual may offer discounts for new graduate, safety features, new move discount, newly married, preferred payment discount, and newly retired.
- SAFECO offers discounts including teen safety rewards, anti-theft, homeowner, accident prevention training, drive less, and multi-car.
- Progressive has savings for homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, continuous coverage, good student, online signing, and online quote discount.
- USAA has discounts for vehicle storage, safe driver, driver training, military installation, new vehicle, loyalty savings, and multi-policy.
When getting free Portland car insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to all the companies which credits you are entitled to. All car insurance discounts may not apply in your area. To locate insurers with discount car insurance rates in Portland, click this link.
How much can you save?
When shopping online for car insurance, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured cut liability coverage limits only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best cost while still protecting your assets.
We just showed you many tips how you can lower your Dodge Nitro insurance prices in Portland. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest prices come from a small mutual company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates compared to the large companies like State Farm or Progressive.
For more information, feel free to visit the articles below:
- Frontal Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- How Much are Portland Auto Insurance Quotes for Postal Workers? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Teachers in Portland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Portland Auto Insurance Quotes for College Graduates? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Teenage Females in Portland? (FAQ)
- Determining Auto Insurance Rates (GEICO)
- What is a Telematics Device? (Allstate)