Tightwads Tips for Saving on Morgan Hill Car Insurance

Have you had enough of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than the majority of other car owners in California.

There is such a variety of to pick from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.

More discounts equal less premium

Companies do not advertise every discount very clearly, so here is a list both the well known and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using.

Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver's ed class in high school.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
No Claims - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts when compared to drivers who are more careless.
Low Mileage Discounts - Keeping the miles down can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Military Discounts - Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.

The list below includes some of the factors that factor into prices.

You might want pay the small claims yourself - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies in California award lower rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Car insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder car theft.
Sex matters - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women cause accidents at about the same rate, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also statistically receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving.
Rates may be lower depending on your job - Careers like doctors, business owners and financial analysts are shown to have higher average rates attributed to high stress levels and long work hours. Conversely, jobs such as farmers, engineers and the unemployed pay the least.
Better crash test results mean better rates - Safer cars can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
Low deductibles can be expensive - Deductibles for physical damage define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be running into the backend of another car, vandalism, or theft. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Clean credit earns discounts - Having a bad credit rating is a large factor in your rate calculation. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than those with poor credit. Therefore, if your credit score can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads in print and on television. They all make an identical promise about savings if you move your policy. How does each company claim to save you money?

Different companies can use profiling for the right customer that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer might be a mature driver, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. Any driver who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who do not match these standards will be quoted more money and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. That's why companies can truthfully make those claims. This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company's rates. You cannot predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

Even more information is available at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to download brochures, view a list of available companies, learn about insurance regulations, and read industry bulletins.

Also read more on this site for car insurance rates in California and this list of insurance agents in Morgan Hill, CA.

Do the work, save more money

While you're price shopping online, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

Cheap car insurance is possible both online in addition to many Morgan Hill insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.