How to Know You're Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Monrovia

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you there are many people just like you.

There are many to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it makes it harder to compare rates.

Buying car insurance in Monrovia is easy if you know what you're doing. Basically, every driver who is required by state law to have auto insurance will be able to cut their insurance bill. But California vehicle owners do need to know how insurance companies market insurance on the web and take advantage of how the system works.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to big savings.

  • Your stress level may be raising your rates - Careers like doctors, business owners and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates because of stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, professions such as actors, engineers and retirees have the lowest average rates.
  • Liability coverage is peace of mind - Your policy's liability coverage provides coverage when a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. It will provide legal defense coverage which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
  • Little extras can really add up - There are quite a few extra coverages that can waste your money if you aren't careful. Coverages for roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
  • Men are more aggressive - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean women are better drivers. They both tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also statistically receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI.
  • Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
  • Traffic citations inflate rates - A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even one speeding ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. If you have dangerous violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to file a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.

How to Compare Auto Insurance in Monrovia, California

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. One of the best ways to find the cheapest insurance rates is to use the internet to compare rates. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

  1. The fastest way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This easy form keeps you from doing repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. Filling out one form will get you price quotes from multiple companies.
  2. A less efficient way to get quotes online requires a visit to the website of each company and fill out their own quote form. For sake of this example, we'll assume you want to compare rates from , and . To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company's site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular.

    To view a list of companies in Monrovia, click here.
  3. The least recommended method of getting rate comparisons is to drive around to and from local Monrovia insurance agencies. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the personal advice only provided by licensed Monrovia agents. However, consumers can find lower rates online and still use a local agent and we'll touch on that later.

It's up to you which method you use, but ensure you are comparing identical coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you enter differing limits it's not possible to determine the lowest rate in Monrovia. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages can make a big difference in price. Just remember that quoting more helps locate better pricing.

Save big with these discounts

Companies don't always publicize every discount very clearly, so here is a list some of the best known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

  • Accident Free - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts when compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for auto insurance.
  • Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
  • Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive reduced rates.
  • Military Rewards - Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
  • Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
  • Multiple Cars - Insuring all your vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only cut individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way.

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

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all make an identical promise that you'll save big if you change to them. How does each company say the same thing?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that makes them money. An example of a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 50, has no driving citations, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Consumers who fall outside these standards will be quoted higher prices and ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save money. That's the way companies can make those claims. This emphasizes why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

More detailed California auto insurance information is available at the California Department of Insurance website. California drivers can read industry bulletins, find out which companies have the most complaints, discover disciplinary actions, and learn about insurance regulations.

Do the work, save more money

Discount auto insurance is attainable on the web and with local Monrovia insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies do not offer online price quotes and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.