Carmel Valley Car Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Beginners to shopping for insurance online may find purchasing affordable Carmel Valley car insurance nearly impossible.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates occasionally because rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best rates two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is a lot of bad information regarding car insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to save money.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the more common and also the lesser-known car insurance savings.

  • Accident Forgiveness - A few companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a house in Carmel Valley may trigger a car insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Good Student - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
  • 55 and Retired - Mature drivers may be able to get better car insurance rates.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you won't be that lucky.

To see a list of companies who offer car insurance discounts in Carmel Valley, follow this link.

Automobile Insurance Quotes in Carmel Valley, CA

There are several ways to shop for car insurance, but one way is more efficient than others. You can waste a lot of time talking about coverages with insurance agencies in Carmel Valley, or you could use the web to accomplish the same thing much quicker.

Many insurance companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company then gives them pricing for coverage. This eliminates the need for quote requests to each individual car insurance company.

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

The one disadvantage to getting quotes like this is you are unable to specify which carriers you want pricing from. If you would rather choose specific providers to compare rates, we put together a list of companies who write car insurance in California. Click to view list.

Whichever way you use, make absolute certain that you use the exact same information for each comparison quote. If you use higher or lower deductibles you can't possibly determine the lowest rate in Carmel Valley. Just a small difference in coverages may cause a big price difference. And when quoting car insurance, remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes will enable you to find the best price.

Carmel Valley Rates are Influenced by These Factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine your car insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

The following are some of the items car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • Do men or women drive better? - Statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Women and men have accidents at a similar rate, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get cited for more serious violations such as reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive car insurance rates.
  • Credit scores impact car insurance rates - Credit history is a big factor in determining your rates. If your credit rating is not that good, you could pay less to insure your by repairing your credit. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit scores.
  • Please use or commuting - Driving more miles each year the more you will pay for car insurance. Most insurance companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles left parked in the garage get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your car insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage.
  • Lower deductibles cost more - Physical damage insurance, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, or theft. Your deductibles are how much you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's.

For example, these questions might point out whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in California?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Is there truth in advertising?

Car insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to say the same thing about savings after switching to their company. How do they all make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured could be a mature driver, owns a home, and chooses high deductibles. A customer who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully state the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which company will give you the biggest savings.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Cheaper car insurance can be purchased from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Carmel Valley agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, an insured cut collision coverage and discovered at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at the best price.

We just showed you many ways to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with a small mutual company.

Carmel Valley car insurance quote

Even more information can be read at the California Department of Insurance website. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, find out industry alerts, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.