Proven Techniques to Save on Oakland Car Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced car insurance? Trust us, there are lots of people in the same boat.

There are many to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have a choice, it makes it harder to compare rates.

Finding affordable protection in Oakland is not that difficult. In a nutshell, every driver who is required by state law to have car insurance will most likely be able to reduce their rates. But Iowa car owners do need to know the way insurance companies sell online and use this information to your advantage.

How to Compare Oakland Car Insurance Costs

The are a couple different ways to compare quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The recommended way to find the cheapest insurance rates is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way to get quotes is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This easy form saves time by eliminating separate quotation requests for every car insurance company. Completing one form gets you price quotes from car insurance companies with the best prices.

Another way to shop for car insurance online requires visiting the website of each company to complete a price quote. For instance, let's assume you want to compare rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Oakland, click here.

The least recommended method to get comparison rates is driving to different Oakland agent offices. The internet makes this process obsolete unless you require the personal advice of a local Oakland agent. However, consumers can compare the best prices online but buy from a local insurance agent and we'll talk about that later.

It's up to you which method you use, but compare identical quote information with each company. If you are comparing mixed coverages it will be impossible to make an equal comparison in Oakland. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages can make a big difference in price. Just keep in mind that quoting more helps locate the best offered rates.

What determines how much you pay?

It's important that you understand the different types of things that help determine your car insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.

Save money with special equipment - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Theft prevention features such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart car theft.
Add-on coverages can add up - There are a ton of extra coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, 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.
Pay less if you're married - Having a spouse can get you a discount on your policy. Having a significant other is viewed as being more mature than a single person and it's proven that being married results in fewer claims.
Women pay lower rates - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar percentages, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically receive more costly citations such as reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
More performance means more cost - The performance level of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in determining your rates. The lowest rates tend to be for low performance passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
How's your driving record? - A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Even one ticket can increase rates forty percent or more. If you have flagrant violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
Adjust deductibles and save - Deductibles for physical damage define the amount you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, and windstorm damage. The higher the amount you're willing to pay, the less your car insurance will be.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there are discounts available that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for before you will receive the discount.

Drivers Education - Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver's ed class if it's offered in school.
Low Mileage Discounts - Fewer annual miles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Paperwork-free - Certain companies will give a small break for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
No Charge for an Accident - Certain companies will forgive one accident without raising rates if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
Early Switch Discount - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them before your current policy expires. It's a savings of about 10%.
Discount for Good Grades - Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Homeowners Discount - Simply owning a home can help you save on car insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Payment Method - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Distant Student - Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

For a list of insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in Iowa, click here to view.

Much more information about car insurance in Iowa can be found on the website for the Iowa Insurance Division located here. Consumers can view a list of available companies, discover disciplinary actions, get help finding coverage, and learn about insurance regulations.

Final considerations

Budget-conscious car insurance can be sourced from both online companies and with local Oakland insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies do not offer online quoting and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

We just showed you some good ideas how you can lower your car insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the best price on car insurance is with a small local company. Smaller companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like .