Free Guide to Saving Money on Westminster Auto Insurance Online

I can't think of a single person who looks forward to paying for auto insurance, particularly when the price is too high.

Popular companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly blast consumers with advertising and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to save some money using these methods. Buying car insurance in Westminster is quite easy. Nevertheless, California consumers do need to know the way companies market on the web and take advantage of how the system works.

Take advantage of discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you can get discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but some must be asked about before you will receive the discount.

  • Federal Employees - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.
  • Air Bag Discount - Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
  • Paperwork-free - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing digitally online.
  • Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for better auto insurance rates.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Being a member of a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings when shopping for auto insurance.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.

Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

Westminster Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings.

The list below includes some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

  • High numbers of claims are not good - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to higher rates. Companies in California give cheaper rates to policyholders who are claim-free. Insurance coverage is intended for larger claims.
  • Credit scores impact auto insurance rates - Having a bad credit rating is a large factor in determining your rates. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with poor credit. So if your credit score can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score.
  • Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Careers like doctors, executives and dentists tend to have the highest average rates attributed to job stress and lots of time spent at work. Other professions such as scientists, historians and the unemployed receive lower rates.
  • Theft deterrents lower rates - Owning a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can help prevent your vehicle from being stolen.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all make the same claim of big savings if you move to their company. How can each company claim to save you money?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who don't qualify for the requirements will be quoted higher premiums which leads to the customer not buying. The ads say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional California consumer information

Additional auto insurance information is available on the website for the California Department of Insurance through this link. Visitors are able to download brochures, find out industry alerts, read industry bulletins, and view a list of available companies.

California auto insurance

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

We covered many ideas to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like .

Cost effective auto insurance is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood Westminster agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.