Buy the Cheapest West Sacramento Auto Insurance

Overpriced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your checking account and put the squeeze on your family's finances. Shopping your coverage around is free and is an excellent way to make sure you're not throwing money away.

Companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to check auto insurance prices quite often since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest price two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to find out the quickest way to find better coverage at a better price.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we researched some of the best known and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance.

  • Auto/Life Discount - Some companies give better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
  • Senior Discount - Mature drivers may receive reduced rates.
  • Memberships - Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on auto insurance.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Have your child complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
  • Government Employees - Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn't work that way.

To see a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in West Sacramento, click this link.

California auto insurance quotes

How to Buy West Sacramento Auto Insurance Online

Performing a rate comparison can be challenging if you aren't aware of the easiest way. You can waste a lot of time discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in West Sacramento, or you can utilize the web to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Many insurance companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to only type in their quote data once, and at least one company then returns a price quote. This system prevents you from having to do quotation requests to each individual auto insurance company.

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

One minor caviat to getting quotes like this is buyers cannot specifically choose which carriers you want to price. So if you want to choose specific insurance companies to request quotes from, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in California. Click here to view list.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just make darn sure you compare exactly the same quote information for each comparison quote. If you are comparing mixed coverages it will be impossible to determine the lowest rate in West Sacramento. Having just a slight variation in limits can make a big difference in price. And when comparison shopping, quoting more will increase your chances of finding a better price.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

  • Where you live - Residing in less populated areas can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Fewer drivers means fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. City drivers tend to have much more traffic to deal with and longer commutes to work. Longer commute distances translates into higher accident risk.
  • Mature drivers pay less - More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel. Teenage drivers have a tendency to be less responsible when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? - Your policy's liability coverage is the protection if ever a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • More claims means more premium - Car insurance companies in California give cheaper rates to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
  • A clean driving record saves money - Just one citation can increase rates forty percent or more. Good drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have dangerous citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone's needs are different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • Am I getting all the discounts available?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive consistently run ads in print and on television. They all seem to make the same claim that you can save if you change to them. How can each company say the same thing?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't measure up to the requirements will have to pay higher prices which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. This is how insurance companies can state the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When buying insurance coverage, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate.

Affordable auto insurance can be sourced on the web and with local West Sacramento insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

West Sacramento auto insurance comparison

More sites with auto insurance information

Additional detailed information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. California drivers can view agent and company licensing information, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, and download brochures.