Free Guide to Saving Money on San Ysidro Car Insurance Online

Have you had enough of paying out the nose each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other New Mexico drivers.

Drivers have multiple to pick from, and although it's a good thing to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to compare prices before your policy renews because rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal on your last policy you may be paying too much now. So forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you're going to learn the proper way to find lower rates on car insurance.

Compare San Ysidro Car Insurance Costs

There are several ways to compare quotes and find the best price. The recommended way to compare insurance prices consists of shopping online. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This method eliminates the need for separate quote forms for every car insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form compares rates from many national carriers.

Another way to compare rate quotes is going to each company website and request a quote. For examples sake, let's assume you want rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why most consumers use the first method.

To view a list of companies in San Ysidro, click here.

The least efficient way to compare rates is driving around to different agent offices. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you prefer the trained guidance of a local agent. You can, however, compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and we'll talk about that later.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just ensure you're using identical coverage limits and deductibles with every price quote. If you use different liability limits it will be next to impossible to find the best deal in San Ysidro. Just a small difference in coverages may cause a big price difference. And when price shopping your coverage, obtaining a wide range of quotes helps you find the best rates.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

It's important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining your car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

Listed below are some of the factors car insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

Poor credit can mean higher rates - Your credit score is a large factor in your rate calculation. So if your credit rating is lower than you'd like, you could be paying less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit.
An active claims history can cost you - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies in New Mexico provide lower rates to insureds who are claim-free. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Big city or small town - Being located in a rural area has it's advantages when it comes to car insurance. City drivers have to deal with congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Your spouse saves you money - Being married can actually save you money when buying car insurance. Marriage means you're more responsible and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Bump up deductibles to save - Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and windstorm damage. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
How's your driving record? - Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Careful drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Just one moving violation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Drivers who get serious violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
More miles equals more premium - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles left parked in the garage can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Make sure your car insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
More than one policy can earn a discount - Most companies give discounts to policyholders who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to shop around to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise every available discount very clearly, so here is a list some of the more common and the more hidden car insurance savings.

Air Bag Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
Employee of Federal Government - Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
Multi-policy Discount - When you have multiple policies with the same company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
Good Students Pay Less - Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
E-sign - Certain companies will give a small break for buying your policy over the internet.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like it's possible to get free car insurance, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

For a list of providers offering car insurance discounts in New Mexico, follow this link.

Even more information is available at the New Mexico Insurance Division website. Consumers can find out industry alerts, download brochures, view agent and company licensing information, and get help finding coverage.

Other useful links include NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of San Ysidro insurance agents.

Final considerations

We just showed you a lot of tips how to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. Smaller companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like .

When you buy insurance online, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.