Easy Methods to Cut Costs on Boulder Creek Auto Insurance

Comparison shopping for Boulder Creek auto insurance is nearly impossible for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. There are so many options available that it can quickly become a lot of work to compare prices in Boulder Creek.

Boulder Creek Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in big savings.

The list below includes some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.
More claims means more premium - Auto insurance companies in California generally give discounts to drivers who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Discounts for multiple policies - The majority of insurance companies will award you with lower prices to customers who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. Consumers may find better rates by splitting coverages up.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Teen drivers in California tend to get distracted easily in a vehicle so auto insurance rates are higher. Mature drivers are more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Traffic violations increase rates - Whether or not you get tickets has a big impact on rates. Only having one ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers have lower premiums than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers with severe tickets such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations such as real estate brokers, social workers and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates because of high stress and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, occupations like farmers, students and the unemployed receive lower rates.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - The more you drive every year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on their usage. Cars not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage.

Fast and Easy Boulder Creek Auto Insurance Quotes

Reducing your insurance rates can be quick and easy. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rate quotes online with multiple companies. This can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The fastest way to get quotes for comparison is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This type of form saves time by eliminating repetitive form entry to each individual auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form gets you coverage quotes direct from many companies. This is by far the quickest method.
A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online consists of going to the website for every company you want to comare to complete a price quote. For sake of this example, let's say you want rates from , and . To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company's site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Boulder Creek, click here.

However you get your quotes, double check that you are using apples-to-apples coverages with each company. If you enter different limits and deductibles on each one it's not possible to make an equal comparison in Boulder Creek.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Car insurance companies do not list all available discounts very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you don't get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
Driver's Ed - Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver's education in high school.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.
Theft Prevention System - Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Defensive Driving Course - Taking part in a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if your company offers it.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn't work that way.

To choose insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in California, click here.

Save $429 a year? Really?

California consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies have a common claim that you can save if you move to their company.

But how can every company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has a short commute. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don't qualify for this ideal profile must pay more money and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why you need to get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Additional detailed information can be read at the California Department of Insurance website. California consumers can find disaster information, download brochures, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include this page for auto insurance prices in California and this page of Boulder Creek insurance agents.

A tidy conclusion

Affordable auto insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Boulder Creek agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers may not provide online price quotes and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Drivers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as delays in responding to claim requests, extreme rates for teen drivers, policy non-renewal or even not issuing a premium refund. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

As you shop your coverage around, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.