Free Guide to Paying Less for Portola Valley Car Insurance Online

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can empty your checking account and put a big crunch on your finances. Comparing price quotes is a smart way to make sure you're not throwing money away.

There are many to buy insurance from, and although it's nice to have a selection, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check car insurance prices on a regular basis due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So ignore everything you know about car insurance because I'm going to teach you the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

Finding affordable coverage in Portola Valley is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Nevertheless, California consumers do need to know the methods companies use to compete online and use this information to your advantage.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so we break down both the well known and the more hidden car insurance savings.

Discount for Life Insurance - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Sign Online - Certain companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
College Student - Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
Save with a New Car - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
Memberships - Being a member of a qualifying organization could qualify you for a break on car insurance.
Accident Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially as compared to bad drivers.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Own a Home - Owning a house in Portola Valley may trigger a car insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. 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 companies who offer car insurance discounts in California, follow this link.

Car Insurance Prices in Portola Valley, California

There are several ways to compare car insurance quotes, but one way is easier and takes less work. You can waste a lot of time talking to agents in Portola Valley, or you can utilize online quoting to achieve your goal.

Many insurance companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to only type in their quote data once, and each company then returns a price quote for coverage. This eliminates the need for form submissions to each individual car insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The only drawback to comparing rates this way is that you can't choose which carriers you want to price. So if you want to choose specific providers for rate comparison, we have a listing of low cost car insurance companies in California. Click to view list.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just ensure you are comparing identical coverage information on every quote you get. If you use unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Portola Valley. Just a small difference in coverage limits can make a big difference in price. Just remember that quoting more helps locate the best offered rates.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine rates.

The more you drive the more you pay - Driving more miles in a year's time the more you will pay for car insurance. Most companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your car insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
Your spouse saves you money - Having a spouse can get you a discount when buying car insurance. It is viewed as being more mature and responsible and it's statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Mature drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in California are known to be more careless when driving so they pay higher car insurance rates. Parents adding a youthful driver to your policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Bad driving skills means higher rates - Good drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Just one citation can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who have flagrant citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
Your car insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for car insurance? Jobs such as lawyers, architects and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates attributed to job stress and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like pilots, engineers and performers have the lowest average rates.
Protect your assets with liability insurance - Liability coverage is the protection if ever you are found liable for damages from an accident. It provides for a legal defense starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.

Is there truth in advertising?

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to say the same thing of big savings after switching to them. How does each company claim to save you money?

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured might be over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. Any driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get as many quotes as possible. You cannot predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When you buy insurance online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

Cost effective car insurance can be bought both online and with local Portola Valley insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

We just presented a lot of tips how to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with an unexpected company. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates compared to the large companies like .

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, get help finding coverage, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and file complaints about a company.