Car Insurance in Colusa - 7 Ways to Save Money

Scraping up a payment for overpriced car insurance can dwindle your bank account and make it impossible to make ends meet. Doing a price comparison is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to lower your monthly bill.

You have multiple to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to do rate comparisons yearly since rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because we're going to demonstrate the tricks you need to know to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

The purpose of this article is to teach you how to effectively get price quotes and some money-saving tips. If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. But California consumers do need to know how companies price insurance differently and apply this information to your search.

Save big with these seven discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you may find discounts to reduce the price significantly. Some trigger automatically at the time of quoting, but less common discounts must be manually applied before you will receive the discount.

Good Student Discount - Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Accident Waiver - Certain companies allow you one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
E-sign - Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
Clubs and Organizations - Being a member of a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with certain companies.

Drivers should understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free car insurance policy, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "best" method to buy coverage. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions can help discover if your situation would benefit from an agent's advice.

Should I buy only the required California minimum liability coverage?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
What are the financial responsibility laws in California?
I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you're not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads on TV and radio. All the ads make an identical promise that you'll save big after switching to them. How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a preferred risk might be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and has a short commute. Any new insured who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential insureds who fall outside these standards will be charged more money and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save money. This is how companies can make the claims of big savings.

That is why drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Much more information about car insurance in California can be found on the website for the California Department of Insurance found here. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and get help finding coverage.

Final considerations

We just covered many tips how you can reduce car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. You may even find the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies. Regional companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like .

As you shop your coverage around, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Budget-conscious car insurance can be purchased both online and with local Colusa insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.