Tightwads Guide for Saving on Arcata Car Insurance

No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for car insurance, especially when their premiums are too high.

Big-name insurance companies like GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ad campaigns and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to do rate comparisons periodically because rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price last year you may be paying too much now. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you're about to find out the only way to reduce your cost while improving coverage.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Arcata is easy if you know what you're doing. But California car owners do need to know the way insurance companies price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.

Arcata Car Insurance Comparisons

There are multiple methods to shop for car insurance, but one way is easier and takes less work. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Arcata, or you could save time and use the web to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

All the larger companies take part in a program that enables customers to submit their information once, and each company then returns a price quote for coverage. This eliminates the need for quotation requests to each individual car insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

One minor caviat to pricing coverage this way is you are unable to specify which companies you want to price. So if you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to compare rates, we have a page of car insurance companies in California. Click here for list of insurance companies in California.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just be sure to compare exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles with every price quote. If you use different liability limits it's impossible to find the best deal in Arcata. Just a small difference in insurance coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. Keep in mind that more quotes will improve the odds of getting the best rates.

California car insurance quotes

Why some people pay less for insurance in Arcata

It's important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.

  • Your location is important - Living in less populated areas can be a good thing when it comes to car insurance. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Urban drivers have to deal with much more traffic to deal with and much longer commute distances. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.
  • How's your driving record? - Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Just one ticket can increase rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who have serious citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
  • Bundling policies can get discounts - Most companies will give a discount to policyholders who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
  • More claims means more premium - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to higher rates. Car insurance companies in California provide cheaper rates to people who file claims infrequently. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we researched some of the more common as well as the least known car insurance savings.

  • Bundle and Save - When you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
  • Federal Employees - Simply working for the federal government may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
  • Accident Free - Good drivers with no accidents pay much less as compared to frequent claim filers.
  • Good Student - Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
  • New Car Discount - Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a house in Arcata may trigger a car insurance policy discount because owning a home shows financial diligence.
  • Club Memberships - Belonging to a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break on car insurance.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way.

For a list of companies offering car insurance discounts in Arcata, follow this link.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to choosing the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Everyone's situation is a little different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

  • What are the best liability limits?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
  • Should I buy only the required California minimum liability coverage?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

More detailed California car insurance information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, read consumer alerts, and download brochures.

California car insurance

Shop smart and save

As you prepare to switch companies, it's a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, someone dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.

We just showed you a lot of tips how to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as .