Free Guide to Paying Less for Redwood City Auto Insurance Online

I can't think of anyone who cherishes buying auto insurance, especially knowing the cost is way too high. Drivers have so many to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have a selection, too many choices makes it more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare prices periodically since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best price on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate the proper way to buy cheaper auto insurance.

Finding affordable coverage in Redwood City is not that difficult. If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can follow these tips to find the best rates while maximizing coverage. California consumers only need to know the tricks to compare company rates online.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always list all their discounts very clearly, so we took the time to find some of the best known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you're paying more than you need to.

Bundle and Save - When you combine your home and auto insurance with one company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
Early Signing - Select companies give a discount for signing up before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
Good Student - A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply until age 25.
Homeowners Savings - Owning a house in Redwood City may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Claim Free - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially as compared to bad drivers.
Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on the same auto insurance policy qualifies for this discount.
New Vehicle Savings - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in California, follow this link.

Redwood City Auto Insurance Comparisons

Comparing auto insurance rates is a ton of work if you aren't aware of the best way to get rate quotes. You can waste a lot of time talking to local insurance agents in Redwood City, or you can stay home and use online quoting to achieve your goal.

Many insurance companies belong to a marketplace that allows shoppers to submit their information once, and at least one company then returns a price quote for coverage. This eliminates the need for quote forms to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

One minor caviat to using this type of system is you don't know exactly which carriers you want to price. So if you prefer to choose from a list of companies to receive pricing from, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in California. Click here for list of insurance companies in California.

Whichever way you use, be sure to compare identical coverages and limits on every quote. If you use different deductibles you will not be able to make a fair comparison in Redwood City.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Where you reside plays a part - Living in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. City drivers have much more traffic and longer commute times. Lower population means a lower chance of having an accident.
More performance means more cost - The type of car you own makes a significant difference in determining your rates. The cheapest insurance rates are generally reserved for economy passenger vehicles, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
A clean driving record saves money - Just one moving violation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who don't get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
What are your deductibles? - Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, or theft. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The higher the amount you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a single plan that fits everyone. Every insured's situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you may require specific advice.

What are the best liability limits?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in California?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.

Is there truth in advertising?

California drivers can't get away from ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you switch your coverage to them.

How does each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay higher rates which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

And the best car insurance company is...

When you buy insurance online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, someone dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price.

Throughout this article, we presented many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from a lesser-known regional company. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like .

The cheapest auto insurance is available on the web as well as from independent agents in Redwood City, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who don't offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Additional California consumer information

Even more information can be found at the California Department of Insurance website. California drivers can view agent and company licensing information, learn about specific coverages, file complaints about a company, and report car insurance fraud.