How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Desert Hot Spgs

I can't think of a single person who looks forward to buying auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much.

There is such a variety of to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies do not list every discount very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance.

Military Discounts - Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Braking Control Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Distant Student - Any of your kids living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
Senior Discount - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates it's possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn't work that way.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

The following are some of the items that factor into prices.

Theft deterrents lower rates - Owning a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent your vehicle from being stolen.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Many auto insurance companies provide better rates to people who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you may still want to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Older drivers pay less - Teenage drivers in California are known to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Adding a teenage driver onto your auto insurance can break the bank. Older drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
Men pay higher rates - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Women and men are in accidents at a similar rate, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI. Young males are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a single plan that fits everyone. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions might point out whether you might need an agent's assistance.

Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in California?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Desert Hot Spgs?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Am I getting all the discounts available?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you don't have a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads on television and other media. They all make the same claim that you can save after switching your policy. How does each company say the same thing?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who matches those parameters will get very good rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Drivers who are not a match for these standards will be quoted higher premiums which leads to business not being written. The ads say "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company's rates. It's not possible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional detailed information can be read at the California Department of Insurance website. California drivers can view a list of available companies, read consumer alerts, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and learn about insurance regulations.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When shopping online for auto insurance, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where an insured cut collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

Affordable auto insurance can be bought on the web in addition to many Desert Hot Spgs insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.