9 Discounts Capistrano Beach Drivers Forget when Buying Car Insurance

No one in their right mind likes having to buy car insurance, particularly when they are paying too much.

You have multiple to pick from, and even though it's nice to have multiple companies, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to do rate comparisons periodically since rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price a year ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Don't believe everything you read about car insurance on the web, but we're going to give you some great ways to put money back in your pocket.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise every available discount very clearly, so we researched both the well known and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance.

  • Sign Early and Save - Some companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. It can save you around 10%.
  • Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
  • Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
  • Multi-policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with one company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Theft Prevention System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver's ed class in high school.
  • Military Rewards - Having a family member in the military can result in better rates.

As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

California car insurance

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a "best" method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the ads make the same claim about savings if you move to them. How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a preferred risk might be over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. Any new insured who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Drivers who don't qualify for these standards will be charged a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That is how companies can truthfully make those claims. That is why you should get quotes from several different companies. It's just too difficult to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Additional California consumer information

Even more information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to learn about specific coverages, find out industry alerts, view a list of available companies, and view agent and company licensing information.

Also read more on III.org's auto insurance page and this directory of insurance agents in Capistrano Beach California.

California car insurance

Do the work, save more money

We just covered many ideas to reduce car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from a small mutual company. Regional companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like .

While you're price shopping online, make sure you don't buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where someone dropped collision coverage and learned later they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.