Tightwads Tips for Saving on Kerman Auto Insurance

Are you tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other California drivers.

Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and although it's nice to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

How much can you save with discounts?

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied at quote time, but some must be inquired about in order for you to get them.

  • Service Members Pay Less - Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • No Accidents - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts when compared with drivers who are more careless.
  • Paperless Signup - Some insurance companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.
  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a home in Kerman may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
  • Payment Method - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.

It's important to note that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you're out of luck. But any discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

auto insurance in Kerman

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in better auto insurance rates.

The following are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

  • Safer occupants lowers premiums - Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
  • Occupation reflects on rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations such as doctors, executives and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates because of high stress and long work hours. Conversely, occupations like farmers, engineers and performers receive lower rates.
  • Being married can save on auto insurance - Being married can get you a discount on your auto insurance policy. Having a spouse means you're more mature 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 get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Small claims can cost you - Auto insurance companies in California give lower rates to drivers who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • More than one policy can earn a discount - Many auto insurance companies will award you with lower prices to people who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal. You may still find better rates by splitting coverages up.
  • Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • More performance means more cost - The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring makes a significant difference in determining your rates. The lowest rates are usually for small economy passenger models, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm continually stream television and radio advertisements. All the companies make the same claim that you can save after switching to their company. How does each company say the same thing?

Different companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a profitable customer might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A propective insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't meet these standards must pay more money which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can advertise the savings.

This illustrates why drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It's not possible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

More information is available on the website for the California Department of Insurance located here. California drivers can find disaster information, read industry bulletins, get help finding coverage, and view a list of available companies.

Shop smart and save

Lower-priced auto insurance can be sourced on the web and also from your neighborhood Kerman agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.