Tightwads Guide for Saving on Arvin Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your savings account and put the squeeze on your family's finances. Doing a price comparison is a great way to slash your bill and have more diposable income.

Companies like GEICO and Progressive constantly blast consumers with catchy ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Arvin is easy if you know what you're doing. But California consumers do need to know how companies sell online.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Lower rates with optional equipment - Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping auto theft.
With age comes lower rates - More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel. Youthful drivers have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Your policy's liability coverage is the protection when you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Careers like real estate brokers, social workers and dentists tend to have the highest average rates in part from stressful work requirements and long work hours. Other jobs such as pilots, historians and retirees receive lower rates.
Having a spouse can save you money - Getting married helps lower the price on auto insurance. Having a significant other means you're more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't necessarily list every discount in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of both the well known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

Pay Now and Pay Less - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive better auto insurance rates.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount when shopping for auto insurance.
No Accidents - Drivers who don't have accidents pay less when compared to accident-prone drivers.
Accident Waiver - A handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear for a certain period of time.
Life Insurance Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with better rates if you take out life insurance from them.
Paperwork-free - Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
Service Members Pay Less - Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Seat Belt Usage - Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

Drivers should understand that some credits don't apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To choose insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Arvin, click here.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads in print and on television. They all have a common claim that you'll save big if you change to their company. How can each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a driver they prefer might be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to the requirements will be quoted more money and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads state "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how companies can make those claims. This emphasizes why you should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Every insured's situation is different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you would benefit from an agent's advice.

What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
What are the financial responsibility laws in California?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

More detailed California auto insurance information can be read at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read industry bulletins.

Final considerations

While you're price shopping online, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Arvin agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies may not provide online price quotes and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.