It’s an obvious statement that auto insurance companies don’t want you to look at other companies. Insureds who shop around for cheaper rates will, in all likelihood, switch insurance companies because of the good chance of finding good coverage at a lower price. A recent survey found that consumers who did price comparisons regularly saved $850 each year compared to policyholders who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding budget-friendly insurance is your ultimate objective, understanding how to quote prices and compare cheaper coverage can help make the process easier and more efficient.
If you want to save money, the best way to quote cheaper Volkswagen Routan insurance in Durham is to compare prices at least once a year from providers who sell insurance in North Carolina. You can shop around by following these steps.
- First, try to comprehend how companies price auto insurance and the steps you can take to keep rates down. Many factors that cause rate increases like traffic tickets, fender benders, and a less-than-favorable credit score can be eliminated by paying attention to minor details. Later in this article we will cover additional tips to get low prices and find missing discounts.
- Second, compare prices from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from multiple sources. View prices
- Third, compare the new rates to your existing coverage to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find a lower rate and make a switch, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Fourth, give notification to your agent or company of your intention to cancel your current coverage and submit a completed policy application and payment for the new coverage. Be sure to store the proof of insurance paperwork in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
A crucial key to this process is to try to compare the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get quotes from all possible companies. This provides a level playing field and the best price selection.
Components of Your Volkswagen Routan Insurance Rates
It’s important that you understand the different types of things that help determine your insurance rates. When consumers understand what impacts premium levels, this allows you to make good choices that will entitle you to lower insurance prices.
Pay more for higher performance vehicles – The performance of the car, truck or SUV you are insuring makes a huge difference in your rates. Lower cost passenger models receive the most favorable rates, but your final cost has many other factors.
The next chart uses these assumptions: married male driver age 20, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It shows Volkswagen Routan car insurance rates compared to other vehicles that have different risk factors.
Improve your credit rating – Having a bad credit score can be an important factor in calculating your insurance rates. If your credit can be improved, you may save money insuring your Volkswagen Routan by taking the time to improve your credit score. People with very high credit ratings tend to be more responsible than those with bad credit.
Avoid tickets and save – Attentive drivers tend to pay less for car insurance as compared to those with violations. Even a single speeding ticket or other violation can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers unfortunate enough to have careless violations such as reckless driving or DUI may face state-mandated requirements to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to legally drive.
The illustration below shows how traffic citations and at-fault claims influence Volkswagen Routan insurance premiums for each age group. The premiums are based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Your vocation is a factor – Do you work in a high-stress field? Occupations such as fire fighters, police officers, and financial analysts tend to pay the highest average rates due to stressful work requirements and incredibly demanding work hours. Conversely, careers such as actors, athletes and retirees get better rates.
Never let your insurance policy lapse – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a quick way to increase your renewal premiums. And not only will your rates increase, failure to provide proof of insurance might get you fines and jail time.
Filing policy claims can increase rates – Insurance companies in North Carolina give most affordable rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can expect higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Your car insurance is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
Prevent theft and lower premiums – Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can save you some money. Anti-theft features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all help stop auto theft and help lower rates.
Marriage can save you money – Having a spouse may cut your premiums on your policy. Having a significant other means you’re more mature and responsible and it’s proven that married drivers tend to file fewer claims.
To find the cheapest Volkswagen Routan rate quotes, there are several ways to compare quotes from lots of North Carolina insurance companies. The fastest way to find the cheapest Volkswagen Routan insurance rates is to get quotes online.
Comparing free price quotes online is easy and it, makes it a waste of time to make phone calls or go to insurance agencies in your area. The ability to quote Volkswagen Routan insurance online reduces the need to sit down with an agent unless you have a need for the advice and guidance of a local agency. Drivers can obtain prices from the web but have your policy serviced through an agent. Just keep in mind that quoting more provides better odds of finding a lower rate.
The following companies offer price quotes in North Carolina. If you want to find cheaper auto insurance in Durham, it’s a good idea that you click on several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
Volkswagen Routan insurance coverage information
The premium table shown below covers a range of insurance prices for Volkswagen Routan models. Having a good grasp of how insurance policy premiums are figured can help drivers make decisions on the best policy coverages.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routan S 2WD | $194 | $292 | $218 | $12 | $66 | $782 | $65 |
| Routan SE 2WD | $220 | $356 | $218 | $12 | $66 | $872 | $73 |
| Routan SEL 2WD | $220 | $420 | $218 | $12 | $66 | $936 | $78 |
| Routan SEL Premium 6 Cyl 2WD | $246 | $420 | $218 | $12 | $66 | $962 | $80 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Premium data assumes married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and multi-policy. Premium amounts do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can revise coverage prices significantly.
Raise deductibles and save
When shopping for insurance, a common question is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The following tables can help illustrate the differences in premium rates when you select higher and lower physical damage deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $100 deductible for physical damage and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routan S 2WD | $214 | $318 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $845 | $70 |
| Routan SE 2WD | $242 | $386 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $941 | $78 |
| Routan SEL 2WD | $242 | $456 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $1,011 | $84 |
| Routan SEL Premium 6 Cyl 2WD | $270 | $456 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $1,039 | $87 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routan S 2WD | $118 | $168 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $574 | $48 |
| Routan SE 2WD | $134 | $204 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $626 | $52 |
| Routan SEL 2WD | $134 | $240 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $662 | $55 |
| Routan SEL Premium 6 Cyl 2WD | $150 | $240 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $678 | $57 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Rate quotes do not factor in garaging location in Durham which can lower or raise coverage rates noticeably.
Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $100 deductible costs an average of $27 more each month or $324 every year averaged for all Routan models than opting for the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $900 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have at least 33 months between claim filings, you would probably save some money by selecting a higher deductible.
How to calculate deductible break even point
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $80 |
| Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $53 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $27 |
| Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $100): | $900 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $900 / $27 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 33 months |
An important sidenote is that a higher deductible level means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you have a physical damage claim. You will want to have enough money put aside in the event you need to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.
The illustration below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles and can affect Volkswagen Routan insurance rates for different age categories. Data assumes a single male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
Volkswagen Routan insurance rates by gender in Durham
The example below shows the comparison of Volkswagen Routan annual premium costs for male and female drivers. The data assumes no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Auto insurance does more than just repair your car
Despite the fact that auto insurance is not cheap in Durham, auto insurance is required in North Carolina but also provides important benefits.
First, most states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability in order to drive the car. In North Carolina these limits are 30/60/25 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if your car has a loan, it’s guaranteed your bank will make it a condition of the loan that you carry insurance to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank will be required to insure your Volkswagen at a much higher premium rate and force you to reimburse them the higher price.
Third, auto insurance protects both your car and your assets. It will also reimburse you for medical expenses incurred in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay attorney fees if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of buying enough insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, especially for larger claims. But the average American driver overpays more than $850 per year so compare rate quotes each time the policy renews to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Affordable Volkswagen Routan insurance in Durham
Companies offering auto insurance don’t always list the entire discount list very well, so the next list breaks down a few of the more common as well as the least known ways to save on insurance.
- Senior Citizen Discount – Mature drivers may qualify for lower premium rates.
- Driver Training Discounts – Completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill and also improve your driving technique.
- Theft Deterrent System – Vehicles optioned with advanced anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen and earn discounts up to 10% off your Durham car insurance quote.
- Home Ownership Discount – Simply owning a home can earn you a little savings because of the fact that having a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
- Claim-Free Discount – Insureds with no claims or accidents can earn big discounts as compared to frequent claim filers.
- No Charge for an Accident – Not a discount per se, but a handful of insurance companies will turn a blind eye to one accident before hitting you with a surcharge with the catch being you have to be claim-free for a specific time period.
- Drive Less and Save – Low annual miles could qualify for cheaper rates.
- Discount for Swiching Early – Some companies give discounts for renewing your policy before your current expiration date. It could save around 10% when you buy Durham car insurance online.
- Multi-line Discount – Not every insurance company offers life insurance, but if they do you may earn better premium rates if you take out some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
- Paperless Signup – Certain insurance companies will provide an incentive for buying your policy on their website.
Just know that some credits don’t apply to the whole policy. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, you aren’t that lucky. But all discounts should help lower your premiums.
The illustration below illustrates the difference between Volkswagen Routan annual premium costs with and without discounts. The rate quotes are based on a male driver, no claims, a clean driving record, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, multi-car, marriage, multi-policy, homeowner, and safe-driver discounts applied.
Insurance companies that may have most of the discounts above may include but are not limited to:
Check with each insurance company to apply every possible discount. A few discounts may not be offered everywhere. For a list of insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Durham, click here.
You may want advice from an insurance agency
Many drivers would prefer to talk to a local agent. The best thing about comparing auto insurance online is that you can find lower premium rates and also buy local.
Upon completion of this quick form, the coverage information is sent to participating agents in Durham who will gladly provide quotes to get your business. You won’t need to do any legwork because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. You’ll get the best rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If you need to get a rate quote from one company in particular, you can always search and find their rate quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.
Finding the right company needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. These are some valid questions you should ask.
- How long has the business existed?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Where would your vehicle be repaired?
- What insurance companies do they work with in Durham?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
If you would like to find a local Durham insurance agency, it can be helpful to understand the different types of agents and how they differ in how they quote coverages. Auto insurance agents may be either exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Exclusive agencies can only provide one company’s prices and some examples include Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so always compare other rates. They receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.
Below are exclusive insurance agents in Durham that can give you price quotes.
Rollie Olin – State Farm Insurance Agent
4810 Hope Valley Rd #116 – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 489-6008 – View Map
Chuck Barham State Farm®
3823 Guess Rd – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 477-7300 – View Map
Tracey Stidham – State Farm Insurance Agent
3622 Shannon Rd #102 – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 401-6147 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agencies can sell policies from many different companies and that allows them to write policies through many different auto insurance companies and find you cheaper rates. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can just switch to a different company and you don’t have to switch agencies.
If you need cheaper auto insurance rates, we recommend you contact independent agents to have the most options to choose from.
The following is a short list of independent agencies in Durham who can help you get price quotes.
The Insurance Pros, Inc.
1210 Cole Mill Rd Suite 101 – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 294-6613 – View Map
Superior Insurance of Durham
3825 S Roxboro St #118 – Durham, NC 27713 – (919) 224-8034 – View Map
Around The Corner Insurance Agency, Inc.
1431 Broad St – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 286-9500 – View Map
Will just any policy work for me?
When it comes to buying adequate coverage, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Every insured’s situation is different.
These are some specific questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.
- Is my trailer covered?
- Who does medical payments coverage extend to?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Am I getting all the discounts available?
- Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
- Is upholstery damage covered by car insurance?
- How do I insure my teen driver?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in North Carolina?
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
One last thing to lower rates
While you’re price shopping online, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest cost, not the least amount of coverage.
We’ve covered a lot of techniques to save on Volkswagen Routan insurance in Durham. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote Durham car insurance, the higher the chance of saving money. Drivers may even discover the biggest savings come from an unexpected company.
Drivers change insurance companies for many reasons like high prices, high rates after DUI convictions, extreme rates for teen drivers or even unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding the right insurance provider can be easy and end up saving you some money.
Additional resources
- Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Veterans in Durham? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Durham Car Insurance Rates for Single Moms? (FAQ)
- How Much is Car Insurance for Nurses in Durham? (FAQ)
- What does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Cover? (Allstate)
- Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
- Five Steps to Filing an Auto Insurance Claim (Insurance Information Institute)