Proven Ways to Save on Fairfax Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your checking account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Doing a price comparison is free and is an excellent way to tighten up your finances.

Companies like GEICO and Progressive all claim big savings with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to do rate comparisons quite often since insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best deal on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So just ignore everything you know about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the proper way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

If you have car insurance now, you should be able to save some money using these techniques. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Fairfax is easy if you know what you're doing. But California vehicle owners do need to know the methods companies use to market on the web and take advantage of how the system works.

More discounts equal less premium

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you may find discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Most are applied when you quote, but some must be inquired about before you get the savings.

  • Good Student Discount - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.
  • Senior Discount - Mature drivers can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
  • Accident Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can earn big discounts compared to bad drivers.
  • Military Rewards - Having a family member in the military can result in better rates.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • E-sign - Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
  • Accident Waiver - A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free prior to the accident.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will reduce your premiums.

To see a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Fairfax, click this link.

California auto insurance

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in Fairfax, California

Most companies give pricing online. Getting online quotes is pretty easy as you simply enter your coverage information into the quote form. Once you submit the form, their system will obtain credit information and your driving record and provides a quote based on these factors. Online quotes makes comparing rates easy, but the work required to visit different websites and enter the same data into a form is monotonous and tiresome. Unfortunately, it is important to perform this step in order to get a lower rate.

The preferred way to locate the lowest prices requires only one form that analyzes rates from a lot of companies. It's a real time-saver, eliminates form submissions, and makes rate comparisons much easier. After sending your information, your coverage is rated and you are able to buy your choice of the price quotes you receive.

If a lower price is quoted, you can simply submit the application and buy the policy. This process only takes a few minutes and you will know how your current rates stack up.

To quickly find out how much you're overpaying now, click here and submit the form. If you have a policy now, it's recommended you input the limits and deductibles just like they are on your policy. This makes sure you will have an apples-to-apples comparison based on the exact same insurance coverage.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Fairfax

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes some of the factors companies use to determine your rates.

  • Traffic citations inflate rates - Even a single speeding ticket can increase rates forty percent or more. Good drivers have lower premiums than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who get severe violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Men fork out a little more - Statistics have proven women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. Women and men cause accidents at about the same rate, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI.
  • Don't let your coverage lapse - Driving your car without having proper coverage can get your license suspended and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage lapse. And not only will insurance be more expensive, getting caught without coverage will get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
  • Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations like doctors, executives and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates because of stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Other jobs such as pilots, historians and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.

It's not one size fits all

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Everyone's situation is a little different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if you could use an agent's help.

  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in California?
  • Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
  • Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
  • Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
  • Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
  • Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use ads in print and on television. All the ads make the same claim that you'll save big if you move to them. How can each company say the same thing?

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a preferred risk might be profiled as over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A propective insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who do not match the requirements will be charged a higher premium which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. This is how companies can advertise the savings.

That is why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Do the work, save more money

In this article, we covered many ideas to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the lowest premiums are with some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates as compared to the big name companies such as .

When you buy insurance online, it's a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Fairfax auto insurance comparison

More sites with auto insurance information

Much more information about auto insurance in California is available on the website for the California Department of Insurance located here. California drivers can file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, find a variety of consumer forms, and read industry bulletins.