Getting Cheap Lemon Grove Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy high-priced auto insurance? Believe me when I say there are a lot of people in Lemon Grove just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy.

Drivers have so many to buy insurance from, and although it's nice to have a selection, too many choices makes it more difficult to compare rates.

Finding affordable coverage in Lemon Grove is easy if you know what you're doing. In a nutshell, every driver who is required by state law to have auto insurance should be able to save money. But California vehicle owners do need to know how insurance companies sell insurance online and use this information to your advantage.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Auto insurance companies don't list every discount very clearly, so we break down some of the best known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

  • Payment Discounts - By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
  • Homeowners Discount - Simply owning a home can save you money because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Discount for Good Grades - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
  • Senior Discount - Mature drivers may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
  • Memberships - Affiliation with a qualifying organization may earn a discount when shopping for auto insurance.
  • Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on the same auto insurance policy qualifies for this discount.
  • Claim Free - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially when compared to bad drivers.
  • Life Insurance Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
  • Multiple Policy Discount - When you combine your home and auto insurance with one company you may save up to 20% off your total premium.

Consumers should know that some credits don't apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way.

To see a list of insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in California, click here.

compare Lemon Grove auto insurance rates

Compare Quotes for Lemon Grove Auto Insurance

The are a couple different ways of comparing rate quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The best method to find the cheapest insurance rates is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be done using a couple different methods.

  • The best way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This type of form prevents you from having to do repetitive form entry for every auto insurance company. Filling out one form will return quotes direct from many companies.
  • A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online is to take the time to go to the website of each company to request a price quote. For examples sake, let's assume you want to compare rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, and that's why the first method is more popular.

    For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Lemon Grove, click here.
  • The most time-consuming method to compare rates is to drive around to and from local insurance agencies. Shopping for auto insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you have a need for the personal advice of a local agent. It is possible to obtain prices from the web but buy from a local insurance agent and we'll touch on that later.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing identical coverages and limits for each price quote. If the quotes have different deductibles you will not be able to truly determine the lowest rate in Lemon Grove. Slightly different insurance coverages can result in a big premium difference. Just remember that comparing a large number of companies helps locate a lower rate.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

  • Theft deterrents lower rates - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system can thwart auto theft.
  • Do you know your deductibles? - The deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The higher the amount you have to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Traffic citations inflate rates - A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even one moving violation can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers who don't get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. If you have serious violations like DUI or reckless driving may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
  • Are you male or female? - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men have accidents in similar percentages, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI. Teenage male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
  • Liability coverage is peace of mind - Liability insurance provides coverage when a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. It provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
  • Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Careers like lawyers, social workers and financial analysts have higher average rates in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like actors, engineers and homemakers get better rates.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all have a common claim that you'll save big if you switch your coverage to them. How does each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 50, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Drivers who don't qualify for these standards will be quoted higher premiums and this can result in business not being written. The ads state "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That's the way companies can make the claims of big savings. This emphasizes why drivers must quote coverage with many companies. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Do the work, save more money

Discount auto insurance is available on the web as well as from independent agents in Lemon Grove, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers don't offer the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

In this article, we covered a lot of ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the biggest savings come from a lesser-known regional company. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates compared to the large companies like .

More detailed California auto insurance information can be found at the California Department of Insurance website. California drivers can view a list of available companies, report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, and learn about insurance regulations.