How to Know You're Wasting Money for Car Insurance in Artesia

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me, you are not the only one feeling buyer's remorse.

There is such a variety of to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.

Finding affordable coverage in Artesia is easy if you know what you're doing. In a nutshell, every driver who is required by state law to have car insurance stands a good chance to be able to lower their premiums. But California consumers do need to know how the larger insurance companies determine prices and use this information to your advantage.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies don't always advertise all available discounts very clearly, so we break down both the well known as well as the least known ways to save on car insurance.

Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Pay Upfront and Save - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
No Claims - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially when compared with drivers who are more careless.
Clubs and Organizations - Being a member of a qualifying organization could trigger savings when buying car insurance.
Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver's education in high school.
Federal Government Employee - Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Homeowners Discount - Owning a home in Artesia may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.

Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Some only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free car insurance policy, companies don't profit that way.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that could result in better car insurance rates.

Safer cars are cheaper to insure - Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
Your car's features help determine rates - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
Sex matters - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women have accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving.
Rates may be lower depending on your job - Occupations such as lawyers, executives and financial analysts are shown to have higher average rates because of stressful work requirements and long work hours. Conversely, occupations like actors, engineers and the unemployed pay the least.
Liability coverage is peace of mind - The liability section of your policy provides coverage if you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. It provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Small claims can cost you - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can pretty much guarantee either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance companies in California give lower rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Car insurance is intended for the large, substantial claims.
Proper usage rating affects rates - The more you drive in a year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Autos that are left in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your car insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the companies make the same claim that you'll save big if you move your policy. How does each company claim to save you money?

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and chooses high deductibles. Any driver who matches those parameters will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't meet these standards must pay higher prices which leads to the customer not buying. The ads say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can state the savings. This illustrates why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. You cannot predict which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

More detailed California car insurance information can be found at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to find disaster information, view a list of available companies, learn about insurance regulations, and read industry bulletins.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Discount car insurance is possible both online in addition to many Artesia insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.