Easy Methods to Spend Less on Lakeport Auto Insurance

Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of auto insurance options in Lakeport? Lot's of other consumers are too. Drivers have so many choices that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find better rates.

It's important to compare prices at least once a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best rates last year a different company probably has better rates today. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance online but we're going to give you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but some may not be applied and must be asked for prior to getting the savings.

Theft Prevention Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
Low Mileage - Low mileage vehicles could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Clubs and Organizations - Participating in certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Multiple Cars - Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
No Charge for an Accident - A few companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a set time period.
Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings of 20% or more.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the items used by your company to calculate your rates.

Multiple policies with one company can save - Some insurers give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money. Drivers may still find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
Safer occupants lowers premiums - Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. Safer cars protect occupants better and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
Liability coverage protects you - Your policy's liability coverage provides coverage in the event that a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It provides you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
Men are more aggressive - Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. Now that doesn't mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes have accidents at a similar rate, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - Insurance companies in California award better rates to insureds who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Your insurance policy is designed for the large, substantial claims.
Big city or small town - Choosing to live in small towns and rural areas has it's advantages when insuring your vehicles. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate. Drivers in populated California areas regularly have congested traffic and longer commute times. Higher commute times means higher likelihood of an accident.
Proper usage rating affects rates - The higher the mileage driven in a year the higher your rates will be. Almost all companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle.

Is there truth in advertising?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the ads make an identical promise about savings if you change your coverage to them. How do they all make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives newer vehicles. A driver who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will be charged a more expensive rate and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That's the way companies can truthfully claim big savings.

That is why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Find out more about auto insurance

Additional information can be read on the California Department of Insurance website located here. California consumers can read consumer alerts, find disaster information, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Final considerations

When trying to cut insurance costs, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. The aim is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheap auto insurance is attainable online as well as from independent agents in Lakeport, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. A few companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

In this article, we presented many tips how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from some of the lesser-known companies.