Free Guide to Spending Less for Barstow Auto Insurance Online

Nobody I know looks forward to buying auto insurance, particularly when the price is too high.

There are many to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have a choice, it makes it harder to compare rates.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Barstow is quite easy. If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to save some money using these techniques. Nevertheless, California consumers do need to know the way companies price online insurance and take advantage of how the system works.

Barstow Auto Insurance Quote Comparison

There are multiple methods to shop for auto insurance, but one way is more efficient than others. You could spend your day driving to agents in Barstow, or you could save time and use the internet to quickly compare rates.

All the larger companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company provides a quote based on that information. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

The only downside to using this type of system is you can't choose which companies to get quotes from. If you would rather choose individual companies for rate comparison, we have a listing of auto insurance companies in California. Click here for list of insurance companies in California.

However you get your quotes, make absolute certain that you use identical coverage limits and deductibles on every quote. If the quotes have different liability limits it's not possible to make a fair comparison in Barstow. Slightly different coverage limits can make a big difference in price. And when quoting auto insurance, remember that quoting more helps locate the best rates.

What determines how much you pay?

It's important that you understand the factors that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.

Listed below are some of the factors companies use to determine prices.

Car features impact rates - Owning a car with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent auto theft.
Better credit means lower rates - Having a bad credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could be paying less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with poor credit.
How many coverages with the same company - Most insurance companies provide better rates to insureds who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Older drivers save more - Youthful drivers in California are statistically proven to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Parents adding a young driver to your policy can really hurt. Older drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always publicize every discount very clearly, so here is a list both the well known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

Military Rewards - Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Distant Student - Youth drivers who live away from home and do not have a car may be able to be covered for less.
Good Student - Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
Homeowners Savings - Simply owning a home can save you money because owning a home requires personal responsibility.
Federal Employees - Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% with a few auto insurance companies.
Senior Citizens - Older drivers may qualify for reduced rates.

It's important to understand that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it doesn't quite work that way.

For a list of insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in California, click here.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in California?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Barstow?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in California?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Final considerations

While you're price shopping online, it's very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to find out they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Low-cost auto insurance can be found both online and with local Barstow insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer online quoting and these smaller companies work with independent agents.