If you want to save the most money, the best way to quote cheaper auto insurance rates is to start doing an annual price comparison from companies who sell insurance in New Orleans.
- Step 1: Try to learn a little about individual coverages and the changes you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that result in higher prices such as tickets, at-fault accidents, and a substandard credit score can be amended by making minor changes in your lifestyle. Later in this article we will cover additional ideas to help reduce prices and find discounts that you may qualify for.
- Step 2: Compare prices from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote rates for many different companies.
- Step 3: Compare the price quotes to your current policy and determine if cheaper Dakota coverage is available in New Orleans. If you can save money and switch companies, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Provide notification to your current agent or company of your intent to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit a completed application and payment to the new company. Immediately upon receiving it, keep the new proof of insurance paperwork with your vehicle’s registration.
The key thing to know about shopping around is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical coverages on each quote request and to quote with all possible companies. Doing this guarantees an accurate price comparison and a thorough selection of prices.
Inconceivable but true, over 70% of Louisiana drivers have stayed with the same insurance company for at least the last four years, and almost half have never compared rate quotes at all. American drivers could save an average of about $860 each year by just comparing quotes, but they just don’t understand the amount of money they would save if they switch to a new company.
Facts and figures for Dodge Dakota insurance
The rate table displayed next outlines detailed analysis of insurance policy prices for Dodge Dakota models. Learning as much as possible about how prices are calculated is important for drivers to make decisions on which coverage to buy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota ST Ext Cab 2WD | $232 | $448 | $598 | $36 | $180 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Dakota Bighorn Ext Cab 2WD | $232 | $448 | $598 | $36 | $180 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Dakota Lonestar Ext Cab 2WD | $266 | $448 | $598 | $36 | $180 | $1,528 | $127 |
| Dakota ST Crew Cab 2WD | $266 | $448 | $598 | $36 | $180 | $1,528 | $127 |
| Dakota Bighorn Crew Cab 2WD | $266 | $528 | $598 | $36 | $180 | $1,608 | $134 |
| Dakota Lonestar Crew Cab 2WD | $266 | $528 | $598 | $36 | $180 | $1,608 | $134 |
| Dakota Bighorn Ext Cab 4WD | $300 | $448 | $478 | $28 | $144 | $1,398 | $117 |
| Dakota ST Ext Cab 4WD | $300 | $448 | $478 | $28 | $144 | $1,398 | $117 |
| Dakota Laramie Crew Cab 2WD | $300 | $528 | $598 | $36 | $180 | $1,642 | $137 |
| Dakota ST Crew Cab 4WD | $300 | $448 | $478 | $28 | $144 | $1,398 | $117 |
| Dakota Lonestar Ext Cab 4WD | $300 | $448 | $478 | $28 | $144 | $1,398 | $117 |
| Dakota Bighorn Crew Cab 4WD | $300 | $448 | $478 | $28 | $144 | $1,398 | $117 |
| Dakota TRX Crew Cab 4WD | $300 | $528 | $478 | $28 | $144 | $1,478 | $123 |
| Dakota TRX Crew Cab 4WD | $300 | $528 | $478 | $28 | $144 | $1,478 | $123 |
| Dakota Lonestar Crew Cab 4WD | $300 | $528 | $478 | $28 | $144 | $1,478 | $123 |
| Dakota Laramie Crew Cab 4WD | $334 | $528 | $478 | $28 | $144 | $1,512 | $126 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Table data represents married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Louisiana minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in specific zip code location which can increase or decrease coverage prices significantly.
Do you need full coverage?
The chart below illustrates the comparison of Dodge Dakota auto insurance rates with full coverage compared to only the Louisiana minimum liability coverage. The prices are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no other discounts are factored in.
Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?
There is no definitive formula to stop buying comp and collision coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of having full coverage is about 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Dodge Dakota replacement cost is $4,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would receive is $3,000 after the deductible is paid. If premium cost is more than $300 a year to have full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some circumstances where eliminating full coverage is not recommended. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should maintain full coverage.
Louisiana auto insurance companies ranked
Insuring your vehicle with a good quality auto insurance provider can be challenging considering how many companies there are to choose from in Louisiana. The company rank data displayed below could help you decide which car insurance providers you want to consider putting your business with.
Top 10 New Orleans Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- USAA
- Travelers
- Mercury Insurance
- AAA Insurance
- Nationwide
- Safeco Insurance
- Progressive
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- The General
Car insurance coverage specifics
Understanding the coverages of car insurance can help you determine the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find typical coverages found on most car insurance policies.
Collision coverage
This coverage covers damage to your Dakota resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for things such as driving through your garage door, hitting a mailbox and hitting a parking meter. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible on your Dakota in order to get cheaper collision rates.
UM/UIM Coverage
This coverage provides protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Dodge Dakota.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 15/30/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Liability insurance
Liability insurance will cover damage that occurs to people or other property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see limits of 15/30/25 that means you have a limit of $15,000 per injured person, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for claims such as medical expenses, bail bonds, funeral expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and loss of income. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but buy as large an amount as possible. Louisiana requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/25 but you should consider buying higher limits.
The illustration below shows why minimum state limits may not provide you with enough coverage.
Medical costs insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills for things like chiropractic care, pain medications, doctor visits, funeral costs and X-ray expenses. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
Comprehensive insurance pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from getting keyed, vandalism and damage from flooding. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Cheaper insurance premiums are possible
We just showed you quite a bit of information on how to shop for Dodge Dakota insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from the least-expected company. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower car insurance rates as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
When buying insurance coverage, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced collision coverage and learned later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate and still be able to protect your assets.
More affordable insurance in New Orleans can be bought from both online companies and from local insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and these small insurance companies work with local independent agents.
Other resources
- Honda warning system reduces insurance claims (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- How Much is Auto Insurance with Multiple Speeding Tickets in New Orleans? (FAQ)
- What is the Cheapest Car Insurance in New Orleans, Louisiana? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Safe Drivers in New Orleans? (FAQ)
- Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
- Senior Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)