Top Ways to Save on Mountain View Car Insurance

Paying for high-priced car insurance can overdraw your savings account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparison shopping is a smart way to make sure you're not throwing money away.

With consumers having so many car insurance companies to choose from, it's nearly impossible to find the lowest cost car insurance company.

It's important to do rate comparisons quite often due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding car insurance on the internet, so I'm going to show you some great ways to reduce your car insurance bill.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Mountain View

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.

Teen drivers pay high rates - Youthful drivers in California tend to be more careless when driving so car insurance rates are higher. If you've ever had to add a teen driver to your policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Men fork out a little more - Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
Too many car insurance claims drive up costs - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance companies in California provide discounts to insureds who file claims infrequently. Auto insurance is intended for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
Discounts for multiple policies - The majority of companies will give a discount to insureds who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.

How to Buy Mountain View Car Insurance Online

There are several ways to compare car insurance quotes, and some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can spend your afternoon discussing policy coverages with insurance companies in Mountain View, or you can utilize online quoting to get the quickest rates.

Most of the larger companies take part in a program that allows shoppers to only type in their quote data once, and each participating company then gives them pricing for coverage. This eliminates the need for quotation requests to each individual car insurance company.

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

The single downside to comparing rates this way is you cannot specify which providers to receive prices from. So if you want to choose specific providers to compare rates, we put together a list of low cost car insurance companies in California. View list of California insurance companies.

Whichever way you use, make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples coverages on every quote you get. If you use different limits and deductibles on each one it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Mountain View. Just a small difference in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when comparison shopping, more quotes provides better odds of finding lower pricing.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't list all their discounts very well, so we researched both the well known and the more hidden car insurance savings.

College Student - Children who are attending college without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Sign Online - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy online.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, you won't be that lucky.

To choose companies with the best car insurance discounts in California, follow this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Car insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you move to them. But how can every company claim to save you money?

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured might be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. Any driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. This is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, you need to get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions may help you determine whether or not you would benefit from an agent's advice.

Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Mountain View?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in California?
What are California no-fault laws?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Even more information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, learn about insurance regulations, download brochures, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Mountain View.

Affordable insurance is out there

As you shop your coverage around, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.

Cheaper car insurance is definitely available both online and with local Mountain View insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.