Colorado Car Insurance Companies

The state of Colorado requires car owners to carry minimum liability insurance coverage on every licensed motor vehicle within the state. Affecting the cost of insurance are the geographic locations of the vehicles, driver age, driver experience, and automobile characteristics.

Although actual insurance products are standard, levels of service and 6 month premium prices are dramatically different from one company to another.

Be sure to always compare auto insurance quotes to get the best rate for your needs. Use the FREE tool above by entering your ZIP code now!

Comparing Companies in Colorado

Comparative research on car insurance policies before renewal time is the best way for Colorado drivers to protect themselves from paying too much money for car insurance.

There are many insurance companies eager to insure cars in Colorado. There are so many insurance companies that it would be ridiculous, if not impossible to get an individual quote from every potential provider.

Before seeking any direct quotes on car insurance policies, driving consumers should have a clear understanding of their placement in the different insurance categories.

Some companies offer lower rates for higher risk drivers than other companies. Certain providers demand higher premiums in some locations, and others give lower discounts to deserving low risk drivers.

Geographic areas, vehicle types and driver age are major factors that affect insurance prices. Assuming there is no accident or traffic violation history, the age of the driver will cause the biggest difference in insurance premiums.

Driver Classification Categories

According to the Colorado State Division of Insurance Agencies or DORA insurance companies classify drivers by placing the age of the driver first in each of the 4 primary driver classification categories.

• A. 21 year-old male who drives less than ten miles to and from work and has had no accidents or traffic violations in the past three years.
• B. 21 year-old female who drives less than ten miles to and from work with no accidents or traffic violations in the past three years.
• C. 35 year-old male with a driving distance to work of less than 15 miles in each direction with no accidents or traffic convictions in the past three years.
• D. 68 year old female who does not drive to work and drives less than 7500 miles annually with no accidents or traffic violations in the past three years.

According to DORA, the most affordable insurance for driver A can be found through Esurance Property, Casualty Insurance Company, Geico Casualty Company or USAA Casualty Insurance Company.

Of course, most drivers will not match these categories exactly, but finding the closest match will show the lowest rates for each classification of driver. Some companies will be more competitive on certain driver categories, and some do not offer car insurance at all for certain categories.

There are different plan levels available in different price ranges. Drivers who use their cars to transport clients or drivers with very expensive cars will have greater liability, and must be prepared with higher pay-out limits and higher insurance premiums. Insurance companies base premium prices on 3 standard plans.

Standard Car Insurance Plans

• Plan 1 pays up to 25,000 dollars per person and 50,000 dollars per occurrence for bodily injury, 15,000 dollars per occurrence for liability, 25,000 dollars per occurrence for property damage and 5,000 for uninsured or under-insured motorist protection.
• Plan 2 pays up to 50,000 dollars per person and 100,000 dollars per occurrence for bodily injury, 25,000 for liability, 50,000 per person for property damage and 100,000 per occurrence. Uninsured or under-insured motorist protection pays 5,000 dollars.
• Plan 3 pays up to 100,000 per person and 300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, 50,000 for liability, and the property damage payment is up to 100,000 per person and 300,000 per occurrence. Uninsured and under-insured motorist coverage normally pays 5,000 dollars for this plan also.

All three plans shown in the comparison chart are based on a 500 dollar deductible.

Using the DORA chart, driver type D would get the lowest price at Esurance, followed by United Services Auto Association. USAA insurance follows closely by less than 10 dollars per premium period.

It is logical that mature drivers with no accidents or traffic violations who drive the least expensive cars will pay the lowest amount for car insurance. Because many responsible drivers have had an accident or a traffic violation, and choose to drive something other than the lowest priced car on the road, all good drivers will not completely conform to every characteristic in the driver categories.

It is important to find the category that matches driver age and daily driving distance as closely as possible in order to shorten the list of prospective insurance providers before obtaining personalized quotes.

Geographic Location Effect on Insurance Price

Where you live affects the cost of your car insurance. As an example, the category 3 driver on plan 3 with a 21st Century Centennial Insurance Company policy will be charged 447 dollars in Grand Junction, 504 dollars in Estes Park and 585 dollars in Denver for six months of car insurance.

The most efficient way to arrive at the best car insurance choice is to locate the best insurance company candidates for your area that offer the plans you want.

Searching the DORA list is the best way to do this. Once a more manageable list of potential providers is narrowed down, further comparison can be made based on individual conversations with selected companies. When there is enough data to make direct contact with an insurance agent, be sure to ask the right questions.

Questions for Insurance Agent

1. What kind of coverage do I need? The only insurance that is legally mandated in Colorado is liability insurance. Collision, comprehensive and personal injury protections are not required. Evaluate the actual benefits in the event of an accident and determine if the cost produces the desired protection.
2. Will the insurance cover anyone who drives my car? This issue is handled differently by different companies. The answer to this question may change your mind about your decision.
3. Are all of the discounts I may qualify for included in this quote? Discounts for bundling, multiple cars, good credit and more are available. Be sure to assertively pursue discount possibilities.
4. May I pay for my insurance in monthly installments? Since most consumers are paid by the week or month, many insurance companies are responsive to the need for monthly payment options. Make sure a monthly payment option is available before committing if monthly payments are needed.
5. Does the insurance pay for the original manufacturer parts? This may not matter to you, but if it is important, original manufacturer parts used in repairs will result in higher premiums.
6. Will my rates be increased after the 1st accident? The necessity and expense of car insurance is unavoidable in order to enjoy the privilege and freedom of driving. Taking the time to research and compare will save you money and provide the best protection.

Make sure you use all of these answers to help find the right policy for your needs. To compare multiple quotes at once, feel free to use the search tool below by entering your ZIP code now!