Top 8 Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance in Ojai

Expensive car insurance can empty your savings account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparison shopping is a great way to cut your insurance bill. Online insurance companies like GEICO and Progressive persitently shower you with catchy ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

Take advantage of discounts

Auto insurance companies do not advertise every discount in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the more common and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out life insurance.
Lower Rates for Military - Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles can earn a substantially lower rate.
Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
Multiple Policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
Passive Restraints - Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don't apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose insurance companies with discount car insurance rates in Ojai, click here.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all have a common claim about savings if you change your coverage to them.

How can each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the requirements will be quoted a more expensive rate and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads state "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you should quote coverage with many companies. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

How to know if you need help

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a "perfect" insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions can help discover whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Learn more about car insurance in California

Even more information can be found at the California Department of Insurance website. Consumers can download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find disaster information, and read consumer alerts.

And the best car insurance company is...

When shopping online for car insurance, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Cheap car insurance is attainable from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Ojai, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some car insurance companies don't offer online price quotes and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.