Easy Methods to Spend Less on San Leandro Car Insurance

If you are a novice to online car insurance shopping, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of car insurance companies offering coverage in San Leandro.

It's important to compare prices periodically since rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best price on your last policy you can probably find a better price now. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to the proper way to get good coverage at a lower rate.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Pricing the cheapest coverage in San Leandro is quite easy. But California consumers do need to know how big insurance companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.

How to Lower your Car Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Your location is important - Living in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when talking about car insurance. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident. Urban drivers have much more traffic to deal with and much longer commute distances. More time commuting means more change of being in an accident.
Type of vehicle determines base rates - The type of car you own makes a huge difference in the rate you pay. Economy passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Poor driving leads to higher costs - Drivers who don't get tickets have lower premiums than bad drivers. Even a single ticket can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers who have serious citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
Extra coverages can waste money - There are many additional coverages that you can buy when buying car insurance. Coverages like roadside assistance, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage are some examples. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.

Save big with these discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will automatically apply when you purchase, but less common discounts must be inquired about before being credited.

Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of more than 20%.
Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Life Insurance Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy life insurance.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of certain professional organizations may earn a discount on car insurance.
Drive Less and Save - Driving fewer miles can earn a substantially lower rate.
Lower Rates for Military - Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
Accident Forgiveness - A few companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims for a set time period.

Consumers should know that some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will cut your overall premium however.

To choose companies offering car insurance discounts in San Leandro, click here.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim that you'll save big if you switch your coverage to them. How do they all claim to save you money?

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured might be between 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who fall outside the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher prices and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads say "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That is how companies can advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's just too difficult to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no "best" method to buy coverage. Everyone's needs are different.

These are some specific questions may help highlight if your situation might need professional guidance.

What are the best liability limits?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

Additional California consumer information

Much more information about car insurance in California can be found on the California Department of Insurance website located here. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, learn about specific coverages, and file complaints about a company.

Do the work, save more money

When you buy insurance online, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. 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 find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford.

We just covered a lot of ways to save on car insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the best prices are with a small local company.

Discount car insurance is available both online as well as from independent agents in San Leandro, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.