Car Insurance Quotes for the Dodge Dakota

Dodge stopped manufacturing the Dakota in 2011, but many still drive this midsize pickup truck. The newest Dakota is already more than a decade old, and annual premiums for it stand at around $1,056 for minimum liability coverage and $1,620 for full auto insurance coverage. This is much cheaper than annual premiums for newer midsize pickups.

Freeway Insurance offers affordable auto insurance plans that fit your needs and budget. Our agents are ready to help you find the best policy for your Dakota at the best possible rate.

If you’re looking to insure your pickup, you have many options, including choosing full coverage or state-required minimum liability.

A full coverage policy will cost you a bit more than a basic one because, in addition to liability insurance, you’ll also have collision and comprehensive. These two options cover crash- and weather-related costs that a minimum liability policy won’t cover.

A basic policy meets your state’s required auto insurance limits — that’s it. If you crash your pickup and others involved are seriously injured, your minimum liability coverage will pay up to a specific amount for their medical treatment. If the cost of treatment exceeds that amount, you’ll be responsible for paying any outstanding balance out of pocket. The same goes for property damage.

You can always increase your minimum liability limits.

Full Coverage

A full coverage policy combines liability protection with comprehensive and collision coverage, protecting you financially in a crash. The liability portion covers any medical bills or damage claims filed by others involved if you are at fault.

Your liability won’t cover any losses you experience in a crash, but your collision coverage will. It will also protect you financially in any other type of crash — whether with a car, an SUV, a commercial truck, or property, like a neighbor’s fence.

Comprehensive takes care of damages that aren’t related to a crash. If your Dakota gets vandalized, for example, or is damaged during a storm, comprehensive pays for your pickup’s repairs.

State Minimum Liability

Every state requires drivers to have some form of auto insurance coverage. This ensures that every driver is responsible for a crash they cause and any damages resulting.

If you cause a crash while driving your truck, a minimum liability policy will pay to have others involved treated at a hospital if they are hurt, for example, and to have their vehicles repaired. It will also help cover funeral expenses if someone who was involved in the crash dies.

Requirements vary by state. For example, a minimum liability policy in Arkansas must include $25,000 to cover medical treatment or funeral expenses for one person involved, with up to $50,000 to cover two or more people. It must also include $25,000 to take care of property damage. By comparison, a Florida driver with a basic policy must have $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage coverage.

Several factors influence how much you’ll have to pay to insure your midsize pickup. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common ones.

Loss Probability

Insurers use crash statistics to calculate loss probability. These statistics determine how often the same make and model of your pickup has crashed in the city or region where you live and drive. This includes the extent of damage this type of truck typically experiences.

Vehicle Safety Features and Ratings

Built-in features that enhance safety typically bring down premiums, as do safety ratings. The Dakota never received a safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Instead, the agency shows that the 2011 model was recalled six times and was investigated at least once. These factors have a negative effect on premiums.

Vehicle Age

The 2011 Dakota was the final model produced by the manufacturer. Because it’s an older pickup, it likely costs more to repair because replacement parts are harder to find. It also doesn’t have the same built-in safety features that newer trucks have. This is why older vehicles can cost a bit more to insure.

DUI convictions always impact auto premiums regardless of vehicle you drive, making rates skyrocket. Because driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is highly dangerous, insurers view a person arrested on a DUI charge as a high-risk driver.

For example, someone who drives a Dakota and is arrested on this infraction will see their $1,620 annual premium increase a certain percentage, depending on the circumstances surrounding the crash. The higher rate will hold for at least 3-5 years, which is when infractions typically clear from a driving record.

Launched in 1986, the truck had a 25-year run, with a rebranding by its parent corporation, Chrysler, during its final two years of production, when it was sold under the Ram brand. This midsize pickup had a traditional design, with body-on-frame construction and a leaf-spring, live-axle rear. It was also the first pickup in this size category with an optional V8 engine.

Earlier models were only available in two-door options, with later versions available in additional trims, like Sport and R/T, that included four-door options. The 2010 model is considered to have been the most powerful, offering the largest interior and removable storage bins that could be stowed under the crew cab’s rear seat. The standard base model had a 210-horsepower V6 engine. Its more expensive trims included the 302-horsepower V8 version.

The Dakota was big enough to rival full-sized models but had a much leaner exterior. This made negotiating congested city traffic and crowded parking lots much easier than other pickups.