Free Guide to Paying Less for Blythe Auto Insurance Online

Are you tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as the majority of other car owners in California.

Online insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive all claim big savings with ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to get comparison quotes before your policy renews since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price a year ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're about to find out the only way to get good coverage at a lower rate.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

  • Bump up deductibles to save - Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are a windshield shattered by a rock, damage caused by hail, or theft. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs - Car insurance companies in California generally give cheaper rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • How many coverages with the same company - Most insurance companies will give a discount to people who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to 10 percent or more. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
  • Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Jobs such as judges, social workers and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates because of high stress levels and lengthy work days. Other occupations like farmers, historians and homemakers pay the least.
  • Liability coverage protects you - Liability insurance will protect you if ever a jury decides you are liable for damages caused by your negligence. It provides legal defense starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
  • Big city or small town - Being located in a rural area can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Drivers who live in large California cities tend to have much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. Longer commute distances means higher likelihood of an accident.
  • Teen drivers pay high rates - Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers. Teenage drivers are statistically proven to be more careless in a vehicle and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • Battle of the sexes - The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. Women and men have accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage. They also get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI. Youthful male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.

Cheap Blythe Auto Insurance Comparisons

Comparing auto insurance rates can be exhausting if you don't understand the easiest way. You can spend your afternoon discussing policy coverages with local insurance agents in Blythe, or you could save time and use the internet to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most of the larger companies participate in a marketplace that allows shoppers to complete one form, and each participating company then gives them pricing determined by their information. This prevents consumers from doing quotation requests to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is you don't know exactly which providers you want pricing from. So if you prefer to pick specific providers to receive pricing from, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in California. Click here for list of insurance companies in California.

However you get your quotes, ensure you're using exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If your comparisons have different liability limits it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Blythe. Slightly different coverages could mean much higher rates. And when price shopping your coverage, having more price comparisons will increase your chances of finding the best rates.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that many people don't even know exist. Some discounts apply automatically when you quote, but less common discounts must be specifically requested before you get the savings.

  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Blythe can save you money because owning a home shows financial diligence.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course in school.
  • No Claims - Claim-free drivers pay much less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Blythe, click here.

Is there truth in advertising?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you switch your policy. How can each company say the same thing?

All companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as over the age of 50, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Drivers who don't measure up to the requirements will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That's why companies can truthfully make those claims.

Because of the profiling, you need to quote coverage with many companies. It's not possible to predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

Additional information is located on the website for the California Department of Insurance located here. California drivers can report car insurance fraud, download brochures, read consumer alerts, and read industry bulletins.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Cheap auto insurance can be found on the web in addition to many Blythe insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. Some companies do not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.