Locating low-cost insurance for a Chevy HHR in Maryland can turn out to be a painful process, but you can use a few tricks to save time. There is a better way to shop for car insurance so you’re going to learn the absolute fastest way to compare rates for a new or used Chevy and get the cheapest rates from Baltimore insurance agents and online providers.
Consumers need to get comparison quotes before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest rates on Chevy HHR insurance in Baltimore two years ago there is a good chance you can find better premium rates now. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re about to find out the right way to get good coverage on Chevy HHR insurance in Baltimore at a lower rate.
If you have insurance now or are looking for a new policy, use these techniques to reduce premiums without sacrificing coverage. Finding more affordable insurance coverage in Baltimore can be fairly easy. Drivers just need to know the quickest way to shop their coverage around online.
Chevy HHR Insurance Rate Factors
The best way to find cheaper auto insurance is to take a look at a few of the rating criteria that help determine auto insurance rates. If you know what controls the rates you pay, this enables you to make decisions that could result in cheaper rates. Many different elements are considered when you quote your car insurance policy. Some of the criteria are obvious like an MVR report, although some other factors are not quite as obvious like where you live or how financially stable you are.
Where you call home – Living in areas with lower population is a good thing when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer people means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate. People in densely populated areas have congested traffic and more time behind the wheel. Higher commute times means a statistically higher chance of an accident.
Credit history impacts rates – A driver’s credit score will be a significant factor in calculating your premium rate. So if your credit rating is not that good, you could save money insuring your Chevrolet HHR by repairing your credit. Drivers who have excellent credit scores tend to be less risk to insure than drivers with lower credit scores.
Add-on coverages may be wasting money – There are a lot of additional coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for personal injury protection, better glass coverage, and motor club memberships are examples of these. These coverages may sound good when buying your policy, but if you have no use for them eliminate them to save money.
Premiums also based on gender – Over the last 30 years, statistics show that females take fewer risks when driving. Now that doesn’t mean women are BETTER drivers than men. They both get in fender benders in similar percentages, but the male of the species tend to have more serious accidents. Men also get more serious tickets like driving under the influence (DUI).
The chart below shows the comparison of Chevy HHR premium costs for male and female drivers. The information is based on no claims or violations, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Type of car determines base costs – The make and model of the car or truck you need insurance for makes a significant difference in determining your rates. Low performance passenger models receive the most favorable rates, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
The chart below is based on a single female driver age 40, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The chart compares Chevrolet HHR insurance rates compared to other models that have a range of performance rating factors.
Drive less and save – The more you drive in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies calculate rates based upon how much you drive. Cars that sit idle most of the time qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Having an incorrect usage rating on your HHR can cost quite a bit. It’s a smart idea to ensure your vehicle rating is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
More stress means more cost – Occupational choices like judges, air traffic controllers, and stock brokers have higher premium rates attributed to high stress levels and lots of time spent away from family. On the other hand, jobs such as scientists, historians and performers receive lower rates.
Premium rates and analysis
The coverage table displayed next outlines different coverage costs for Chevy HHR models. Having a good grasp of how car insurance premiums are calculated can help drivers make decisions on the best policy to buy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HHR LS | $188 | $342 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,154 | $96 |
| HHR LT | $188 | $342 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,154 | $96 |
| HHR SS | $210 | $464 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,298 | $108 |
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Data rating is based on single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Prices do not factor in specific location which can alter price quotes greatly.
Raise deductibles and save
A question often asked by Baltimore drivers is at what level do you set your deductibles. The following insurance rates help summarize the difference in cost between low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HHR LS | $354 | $528 | $406 | $24 | $122 | $1,459 | $122 |
| HHR LT | $354 | $528 | $406 | $24 | $122 | $1,459 | $122 |
| HHR SS | $394 | $718 | $406 | $24 | $122 | $1,689 | $141 |
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| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HHR LS | $218 | $332 | $406 | $24 | $122 | $1,102 | $92 |
| HHR LT | $218 | $332 | $406 | $24 | $122 | $1,102 | $92 |
| HHR SS | $244 | $452 | $406 | $24 | $122 | $1,248 | $104 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in garaging location in Baltimore which can modify auto insurance rates considerably.
Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible costs about $32 more each month or $384 annually than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $750 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to have at least 23 months between claim filings, you would most likely save money if you elect the higher deductible.
How to calculate when to raise deductibles
| Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $128 |
| Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $96 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $32 |
| Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $32 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 23 months |
Drive responsibly or pay higher rates
The information below illustrates how traffic citations and at-fault collisions impact Chevy HHR insurance rates for different age groups. Data assumes a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Does full coverage make sense?
The diagram below shows the comparison of Chevy HHR insurance rates when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The data assumes no tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Deciding between full coverage and liability only
There is no set guideline to eliminate comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is about 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
For example, let’s assume your Chevy HHR claim settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $8,000 after paying your deductible. If you are currently paying more than $800 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some cases where eliminating full coverage is not financially feasible. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
Insurance policy discounts for Chevy HHR insurance in Baltimore
Some companies don’t list every available discount very well, so the list below gives a summary of a few of the more well known in addition to some of the lesser obvious credits available to you. If they aren’t giving you every credit available, you could be saving more on your insurance.
- Student Discounts – Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.
- Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in Baltimore can get you a discount because it demonstrates responsibility.
- Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down on your Chevy could qualify for slightly better insurance rates than normal.
- Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle up can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) off the PIP or medical payment premium.
- Multi-Vehicle Discounts – Having multiple cars with one company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Discounts for Cautious Drivers – Insureds who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates as compared to drivers with claims.
A quick disclaimer, some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky. Any qualifying discounts will positively reduce your overall premium however.
The information below shows the comparison of Chevy HHR car insurance rates with and without discounts. Data assumes a female driver, no accidents or driving violations, Maryland state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-car, and marriage discounts applied.
A few popular companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts are detailed below.
- State Farm may have discounts that include driver’s education, passive restraint, student away at school, safe vehicle, good student, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- American Family may offer discounts for good driver, good student, early bird, defensive driver, air bags, TimeAway discount, and mySafetyValet.
- GEICO has discounts for military active duty, daytime running lights, anti-theft, five-year accident-free, anti-lock brakes, and seat belt use.
- 21st Century policyholders can earn discounts including homeowners, automatic seat belts, student driver, early bird, and 55 and older.
- Progressive has savings for homeowner, online quote discount, online signing, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and good student.
Check with every company which credits you are entitled to. A few discounts might not be offered in Baltimore. To see a list of providers that have a full spectrum of discounts in Maryland, follow this link.
How much can you save?
Drivers change insurance companies for any number of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, delays in responding to claim requests, poor customer service or even high prices. Regardless of your reason, finding a great new company is not as hard as you think.
Budget-friendly insurance in Baltimore can be found from both online companies in addition to many Baltimore insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not offer price quotes online and these regional carriers provide coverage only through independent insurance agencies.
When buying insurance coverage, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
How to buy cheaper Chevy HHR insurance in Baltimore
Really, the only way to get low-cost car insurance rates is to start comparing prices regularly from different companies who provide auto insurance in Baltimore.
- Take a few minutes and learn about coverages and the measures you can control to drop your rates. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices such as multiple speeding tickets and an imperfect credit rating can be eliminated by paying attention to minor details.
- Compare prices from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can provide rates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes from many different companies. View companies
- Compare the new rates to your current policy premium and determine if cheaper HHR coverage is available in Baltimore. If you find a lower rate quote, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
- Give proper notification to your current agent or company to cancel the current policy. Submit a down payment along with a completed application to your new insurance company. Once the application is submitted, place the new certificate verifying coverage along with the vehicle’s registration papers.
The key thing to know about shopping around is to make sure you enter the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to compare every company you can. This enables a fair price comparison and the best price quote selection.
Much more information about insurance in Maryland can be read at these links:
- All About Airbag Safety (State Farm)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Uninsured Drivers in Baltimore? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Electric Cars in Baltimore? (FAQ)
- How Much are Baltimore Auto Insurance Quotes for Felons? (FAQ)
- Alcohol Impaired Driving FAQ (iihs.org)
- State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)