Expert Tips to Saving Money on Irvine California Auto Insurance

No one cherishes buying auto insurance, particularly when they are paying too much.

Many auto insurance companies compete to insure your vehicles, so it can be very hard to choose a provider to get the lowest cost out there.

You should take the time to shop coverage around at least once a year because prices change frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates two years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to how to use online quotes to buy cheaper auto insurance.

If you have car insurance now, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using this information. Buying car insurance in Irvine is not rocket science. Nevertheless, California drivers need to learn the way insurance companies price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.

Lower your Irvine Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate premiums.

• The more you drive the more you pay – Driving more miles every year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars left parked in the garage get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage.
• Better credit scores mean better rates – Having a bad credit score is a large factor in your rate calculation. Consumers who have excellent credit tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with lower credit scores. If your credit rating is low, you could be paying less to insure your by repairing your credit.
• Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. Safer cars reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
• Being married is a good thing – Getting married actually saves money on auto insurance. It is viewed as being more mature and responsible and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
• Tickets mean higher rates – Good drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Only having one speeding ticket can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
• Big city or small town – Living in a small town can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Urban drivers have much more traffic to deal with and much longer commute distances. More time commuting translates into higher accident risk.
• Increase deductibles and save – Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are a windshield shattered by a rock, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
• Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates – Having an insurance coverage lapse will be a guaranteed way to bump up your auto insurance costs. Not only will you pay more, getting caught without coverage may earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there are discounts available that many people don’t even know exist. A few discounts will automatically apply at quote time, but less common discounts must be manually applied prior to getting the savings.

• Bundle and Save – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
• Student Driver Training – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver’s education in high school.
• No Claims – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay much less compared to frequent claim filers.
• Early Signing – Some companies give discounts for buying a policy before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
• Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way. But any discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Irvine, click here.

Do drivers who switch really save $436 a year?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive consistently run ads in print and on television. All the ads make the same claim that you can save if you change to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a profitable customer could be between the ages of 40 and 55, a clean driving record, and has a high credit rating. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who fall outside this ideal profile must pay more money and ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. That is how companies can advertise the savings.

This illustrates why it’s extremely important to get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

When should I talk to an agent?

When choosing the best auto insurance coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help highlight whether or not you could use an agent’s help.

• Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
• Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
• Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
• What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
• When should I not file a claim?
• Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
• What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

More resources for learning

Much more information about auto insurance in California can be found on the website for the California Department of Insurance located here. California consumers can view agent and company licensing information, report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal

When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

You just read many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with the least-expected company. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive and GEICO.