Guide to Insuring your Jeep Cherokee for Less
If finding the lowest rate on car insurance was easy, most people would have no trouble paying less. But more than likely, it's challenging for most people and we always end up paying more than we want. Finding insurance for your Jeep Cherokee that you can actually afford is probably no different.
Step One: Compare Online Rate Quotes
The antiquated method of shopping for car insurance included a high pressure visit to the office of your local insurance agent. Now you can compare rates and buy a policy online!
Getting online rate quotes for a Jeep Cherokee from all the major insurance companies is very easy and only requires you to enter your information once.
Simply click the link below to start a quote that will compare rates from many companies and you may find a lower rate than you're currently paying.
Quoting Tip! The only way to compare rates from multiple companies is to use identical coverage amounts and deductibles on each quote. If you use different limits on quotes, you cannot accurately determine which company has the best rates for your Cherokee.
Step Two: How to Cut Costs on Cherokee Insurance
How much impact insuring your Jeep has on your wallet is controlled by many different factors. Here are some ways to reduce the negatives and improve the positives.
- Each year make a habit of checking your credit score. If you find problems that may be dragging down your credit rating, address them immediately. This will result in significant savings on car insurance.
- If your teen driver has completed a driver's education class in school, check to see if your insurance company offers any discounts for this.
- SUV's tend to have slightly higher insurance rates due to the fact that you can take them offroad and they have a more complex drive train system.
- Never allow one policy to expire without having a new policy effective the same date. This causes a lapse in coverage and if you don't have insurance for any length of time, your next policy will cost you more.
- Owning a home takes financial responsibility, and car insurance companies will often give you a break just for being a homeowner.
- Being a senior citizen can qualify you for a small discount on your insurance rates. Older drivers are generally more cautious so they get a lower rate.
- Before a comprehensive or collision claim is paid by your company, you have to pay a deductible first. The more you're willing to pay, the lower your rates will be. Consider raising your deductibles to $500 or even $1,000.
- The easiest way to INCREASE your car insurance rates is to add a teenage driver to your policy. There aren't many ways to prevent a rate increase, but if you can rate them on an older vehicle, it can help.
- If you think the only financial impact of a speeding ticket is a fine and court costs, think again. Insurance companies will raise your rates for up to three years for a single ticket.
- Safety features such as antilock brakes, traction control and air bag systems all help reduce the cost of car insurance by keeping the passengers safer.
- If you have tended to file small claims with your car insurance company in the past, you're most likely going to pay higher premiums in the future. Consider paying minor claims out-of-pocket instead of blemishing your claim history.
- Particular years and models of cars tend to be frequently stolen, and if your Cherokee is on that list, chances are your insurance company knows it and will ding you a little extra because of it.
Step Three: Bind Coverage and Cancel your Old Policy
You've compared rates and hopefully looked over the coverages for each vehicle on your policy to make sure they're adequate. Now you can make the big decision on which company will best fulfill your needs.
If you didn't have a prior policy, then you can make the new policy effective any time. But if you're moving bewteen companies and don't want a lapse in coverage, make sure the effective date of the new policy is exactly the same as the cancellation date of the old policy.
If the Jeep Cherokee is a new purchase and you already have car insurance, then you will have some coverage that extends to the vehicle. But if you let your old policy lapse or have never had coverage, you don't have any protection once you buy the vehicle. Be sure to have a new policy ready to go if you are buying a new Cherokee. If you've never had car insurance or don't have a policy now, you won't have any protection on the vehicle until you add it to your policy.
The proof-of-insurance card that is required by state law to be carried in your vehicle can be printed out upon completion of your car insurance policy. An SR-22 filing may be required by your state's DMV if you've been convicted of a serious driving offense such as DUI, DWI or reckless driving. If this applies to you, make sure the car insurance company complies with the SR-22 requirement.
Car Insurance Resources
To read more about topics such as how to file a claim, replacement auto parts and mistakes to avoid, visit the Insurance Information Institute website.
Recent Blog Articles
