It takes a little time, but the best way to find better pricing on Dodge Dakota insurance in Madison is to start comparing rates regularly from companies who sell auto insurance in Wisconsin.
- Read about what is in your policy and the measures you can take to keep rates in check. Many rating factors that cause high rates like your driving record and an unacceptable credit history can be controlled by making lifestyle changes or driving safer. This article provides ideas to help keep prices low and find possible discounts that are available.
- Request rate estimates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can provide price quotes from multiple sources.
- Compare the quotes to your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available in Madison. If you can save money, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
- Tell your current agent or company of your intent to cancel your current coverage. Submit payment and a completed application to the new insurer. When you receive it, safely store the certificate verifying proof of insurance in your vehicle.
The most important part of shopping around is to use similar limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get rate quotes from as many companies as you can. This enables a fair price comparison and many rates to choose from.
It’s an obvious statement that auto insurance companies don’t want you to look for cheaper rates. Insureds who shop around at least once a year are very likely to switch companies because there are good odds of finding coverage at a more affordable price. A study showed that people who compared rates once a year saved approximately $3,450 over four years compared to policyholders who don’t make a habit of comparing rates.
If saving money on car insurance in Madison is why you’re reading this, knowing the best way to compare auto insurance can help simplify the task of finding more affordable coverage.
The companies shown below can provide free rate quotes in Madison, WI. To get cheap car insurance in Wisconsin, we suggest you get prices from several of them to get the most competitive price.
Insurance statistics and figures
The premium table displayed next highlights different coverage prices for Dodge Dakota models. Learning more about how auto insurance policy rates are figured can assist in making smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota ST Ext Cab 2WD | $148 | $350 | $324 | $20 | $98 | $940 | $78 |
| Dakota Bighorn Ext Cab 2WD | $148 | $350 | $324 | $20 | $98 | $940 | $78 |
| Dakota Lonestar Ext Cab 2WD | $170 | $350 | $324 | $20 | $98 | $962 | $80 |
| Dakota ST Crew Cab 2WD | $170 | $350 | $324 | $20 | $98 | $962 | $80 |
| Dakota Bighorn Crew Cab 2WD | $170 | $412 | $324 | $20 | $98 | $1,024 | $85 |
| Dakota Lonestar Crew Cab 2WD | $170 | $412 | $324 | $20 | $98 | $1,024 | $85 |
| Dakota Bighorn Ext Cab 4WD | $192 | $350 | $260 | $16 | $78 | $896 | $75 |
| Dakota ST Ext Cab 4WD | $192 | $350 | $260 | $16 | $78 | $896 | $75 |
| Dakota Laramie Crew Cab 2WD | $192 | $412 | $324 | $20 | $98 | $1,046 | $87 |
| Dakota ST Crew Cab 4WD | $192 | $350 | $260 | $16 | $78 | $896 | $75 |
| Dakota Lonestar Ext Cab 4WD | $192 | $350 | $260 | $16 | $78 | $896 | $75 |
| Dakota Bighorn Crew Cab 4WD | $192 | $350 | $260 | $16 | $78 | $896 | $75 |
| Dakota TRX Crew Cab 4WD | $192 | $412 | $260 | $16 | $78 | $958 | $80 |
| Dakota TRX Crew Cab 4WD | $192 | $412 | $260 | $16 | $78 | $958 | $80 |
| Dakota Lonestar Crew Cab 4WD | $192 | $412 | $260 | $16 | $78 | $958 | $80 |
| Dakota Laramie Crew Cab 4WD | $214 | $412 | $260 | $16 | $78 | $980 | $82 |
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Price data assumes single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Wisconsin minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Price estimates do not factor in specific location which can raise or lower price quotes considerably.
How accidents and violations affect rates in Madison
The diagram below illustrates how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents drive up Dodge Dakota auto insurance costs for each age group. Data assumes a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Three good reasons to insure your Dodge vehicle
Despite the high cost, maintaining insurance may be required and benefits you in several ways.
First, almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require a minimum amount of liability in order to be legal. In Wisconsin these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if your Dakota has a lienholder, it’s guaranteed your bank will make it a condition of the loan that you buy full coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank may buy a policy for your Dodge for a much higher rate and require you to pay the higher premium.
Third, insurance safeguards your Dodge Dakota and your assets. It will also reimburse you for medical bills that are the result of an accident. Liability coverage also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, your insurance policy will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance more than cancel out the cost, especially with large liability claims. On average, a vehicle owner in Madison overpays more than $865 each year so compare rates once a year at a minimum to make sure the price is not too high.
Find More Affordable Auto Insurance with These Tips
Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you understand what determines base rates, this allows you to make good choices that could help you find lower rates.
The factors shown below are some of the major factors used by your company to calculate premiums.
Location can influence price – Choosing to live in less populated areas has definite advantages when shopping for auto insurance. Fewer people corresponds to lower accident rates as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Residents of big cities have to deal with congested traffic and more time behind the wheel. Higher commute times means more chances of being involved in an auto accident.
Cars with good safety ratings lower prices – Vehicles that have high safety ratings get lower rates. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and cheaper rates on your policy.
High policy claims frequency drives up prices – If you file a lot of claims you can look forward to increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Car insurance companies in Wisconsin award the best rates to people who file claims infrequently. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
Lower rates come with age – Young drivers in Wisconsin are proven to be less responsible behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher. Older people are more responsible, cause fewer claims and accidents, and receive fewer citations.
The chart below assumes a single driver, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Annual miles is a factor – The more you drive annually the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. A lot of companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars and trucks that have low annual miles receive better premium rates compared to those used for work or business. Having the wrong rating on your Dakota may be wasting your money. It’s a smart idea to ensure your vehicle rating correctly shows the correct usage.
Know your credit score – Credit rating is a big factor in your rate calculation. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be more responsible than drivers who have lower credit ratings. If your credit rating is low, you could pay less to insure your Dodge Dakota if you improve your credit rating.
Low stress employer equals lower premiums – Do you work in a high-stress field? Jobs such as lawyers, business owners, and emergency personnel have higher average rates due to high stress levels and long work days. On the other hand, occupations such as scientists, athletes and the unemployed get better rates.
Are you male or female? – Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. This data doesn’t prove that males are worse at driving than females. Both genders are responsible for accidents in similar percentages, but the males get into accidents with more damage. Men also get higher numbers of serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Males from age 16 to 21 are most likely to cause an accident so they pay the highest premiums.
The illustration below compares Dodge Dakota yearly insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premiums are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
When to get professional advice
Keep in mind that when it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really isn’t a cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply.
For example, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.
- What is the ISO rating for a Dodge Dakota?
- Is other people’s property covered if stolen from my vehicle?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
- Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
- How does medical payments coverage work?
- When would I need rental car insurance?
- When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
- Does my Dodge Dakota need full coverage?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.
Cheap insurance is out there
As you quote Madison auto insurance, it’s not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed full coverage and learned later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best possible price.
Lower-priced insurance in Madison can be sourced online as well as from insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies don’t offer price quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
Other articles
- Car Insurance FAQ (Trusted Choice)
- Who Has Cheap Madison Auto Insurance Rates for a 20 Year Old Female? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for a 20 Year Old Male in Madison? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Infrequent Drivers in Madison? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Madison Car Insurance Rates for High Mileage Drivers? (FAQ)
- Winter Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)
- Determining Your Vehicle’s Value and Repair Cost (Insurance Information Institute)