Encinitas Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Are you intimidated by the wide range of auto insurance companies in Encinitas? Many other drivers are as well. There are so many options that it can turn into a ton of work to find better rates.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Locating affordable auto insurance coverage in Encinitas can be fairly easy. Although California drivers do need to know how insurance companies determine prices.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies don't always list every discount in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings.

  • Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
  • Memberships - Participating in a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Have your child successfully complete driver's ed class in high school.
  • No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less when compared to bad drivers.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Taking part in a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
  • No Charge for an Accident - A handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear for a particular time prior to the accident.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won't be that lucky.

To see a list of insurance companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Encinitas, follow this link.

compare Encinitas auto insurance rates

How to Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in Encinitas, California

Shopping for lower auto insurance rates can take hours if you aren't aware of the most efficient way. You can waste a lot of time talking about coverages with local insurance agents in Encinitas, or you can stay home and use the internet to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

Many insurance companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to send in one quote, and at least one company provides a quote for coverage. This eliminates the need for quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.

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

The one disadvantage to using this type of system is you don't know exactly which carriers to get quotes from. If you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to receive pricing from, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in California. View list of California insurance companies.

Which method you use is up to you, but ensure you are comparing exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits on every quote. If you use different values for each quote you will not be able to make a fair comparison in Encinitas. Just a small difference in coverages may result in a large different in cost. Just remember that getting more free quotes will improve the odds of getting better pricing.

You have some control over your rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings.

  • Car features impact rates - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your car from being stolen.
  • Don't skimp on liability - The liability section of your policy provides coverage when a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • More claims means more premium - Companies in California provide cheaper rates to insureds who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for the large, substantial claims.
  • Rates may be lower depending on your job - Careers like real estate brokers, architects and dentists tend to have the highest average rates in part from high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. Other jobs such as actors, historians and the unemployed receive lower rates.
  • Little extras can really add up - There are a lot of extra coverages that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and term life insurance are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • Drive less and save money - The more you drive in a year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads in print and on television. They all say the same thing about savings if you move to their company. How can each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 50, has no driving citations, and has excellent credit. A driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't measure up to the requirements will be quoted higher rates which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's the way companies can truthfully make those claims. This emphasizes why drivers must compare many company's rates. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Final considerations

Consumers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, questionable increases in premium, high rates after DUI convictions or delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason, switching auto insurance companies is actually quite simple.

The cheapest auto insurance is possible online and also from your neighborhood Encinitas agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, it's a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

Learn more about California auto insurance

Even more information can be read at the California Department of Insurance website. California consumers can view a list of available companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, and download brochures.