Easy Methods to Cut Costs on Fontana Auto Insurance

Finding better rates for Fontana auto insurance is nearly impossible for consumers not familiar with buying insurance online. Consumers have so many options available that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find the best price in Fontana.

It's important to compare prices once or twice a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the lowest rates two years ago you can probably find a better price now. Starting right now, forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn the tricks you need to know to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Fontana is quite easy. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. California drivers only need an understanding of the most effective way to shop their coverage around on the web.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with big savings.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate rates.

  • Pay less after the wedding - Having a spouse helps lower the price on your policy. It translates into being more mature and responsible and it's proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder car theft.
  • Policy add-ons can waste money - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Things like personal injury protection, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money - Some insurers will give a discount to customers who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money. Drivers may still find better rates by buying auto insurance from a different company.
  • Drive a safer car and pay less - Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive - Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims could be a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, and burglary. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The higher the amount you have to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • With age comes lower rates - Teen drivers in California have a tendency to be more careless in a vehicle so auto insurance rates are higher. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.

More discounts equal less premium

Companies offering auto insurance don't necessarily list all their discounts very well, so we break down both well-publicized as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using. If you don't get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Fontana can help you save on auto insurance because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Driver's Ed - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
  • Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
  • Theft Prevention System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
  • Drive Less and Save - Low mileage vehicles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Multiple Cars - Having all your vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Discount for New Cars - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way.

To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in California, click here to view.

Switch companies and save? Really?

California consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to make an identical promise of big savings if you change your coverage to them.

But how can every company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be a mature driver, has no tickets, and chooses high deductibles. A driver who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who do not match this ideal profile will have to pay more money and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. That's why insurance companies can confidently state the savings. Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More California auto insurance information

More tips and info about auto insurance can be found at the California Department of Insurance website. California consumers can get help finding coverage, view a list of available companies, and discover disciplinary actions.

Other informative sites include this page for California auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in Fontana, CA.

compare Fontana auto insurance rates

A tidy conclusion

Cost effective auto insurance is attainable online as well as from independent agents in Fontana, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

People leave their current company for a number of reasons such as an unsatisfactory settlement offer, extreme rates for teen drivers, questionable increases in premium or even policy non-renewal. It doesn't matter why you want to switch choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

When buying insurance coverage, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford.