5 Discounts El Monte Shoppers Forget when Buying Car Insurance

Searching for the lowest cost El Monte car insurance online is rather challenging for consumers new to online price comaprisons. When there are so many companies competing online, how can consumers possibly compare the different rates to find the lowest price available?

It's important to check car insurance prices quite often since rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of bad information regarding car insurance online, so I'm going to show you some great ways to quit paying high car insurance rates.

Buying car insurance in El Monte is not that difficult. Basically, anyone who carries car insurance stands a good chance to be able to save money. Although California car owners do need to know how big insurance companies determine prices because it can help you find the best coverage.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance companies don't list all their discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

  • Sign Online - Certain companies will give a small break for buying your policy over the internet.
  • 55 and Retired - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
  • Accident Waiver - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears it's possible to get free car insurance, you won't be that lucky.

To choose companies with the best car insurance discounts in California, click here.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Car insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you move to them. How does each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured could be between 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay a more expensive rate and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you should compare as many rates as you can. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

How to know if you need help

When buying the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Everyone's situation is unique.

These are some specific questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

  • Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Even more information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. Consumers can get help finding coverage, learn about insurance regulations, and view a list of available companies.

El Monte car insurance comparison

Affordable insurance is out there

The cheapest car insurance is possible from both online companies and with local El Monte insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Some car insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

When shopping online for car insurance, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced collision coverage and learned later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.

Drivers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, denial of a claim, unfair underwriting practices or even policy cancellation. No matter why you want to switch, switching car insurance companies is easier than you think.