5 Tricks to Save on Car Insurance in Oakland

Are you intimidated by the wide range of car insurance company choices in Oakland? Lot's of other consumers are too. You have so many options available that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find lower rates.

It's important to compare rates every six months since rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates a couple years back you will most likely find a better rate today. There is a lot of bad information regarding car insurance online, so we're going to give you some great ways to put money back in your pocket.

Finding the best rates in Oakland is quite easy. If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Nevertheless, New Jersey car owners do need to know the way companies compete online.

These 5 discounts can lower your rates

Companies offering auto insurance don't always list every available discount very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the more common and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using.

  • Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Multiple Vehicles - Buying coverage for multiple vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
  • Resident Student - Kids in college living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • No Charge for an Accident - Certain companies permit an accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
  • Anti-lock Brake System - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

It's important to understand that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it doesn't quite work that way.

Oakland car insurance quote

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive continually stream ads on television and other media. All the ads make an identical promise of big savings after switching to their company. How does each company make the same claim?

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a preferred risk could be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any new insured who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Drivers who are not a match for these standards will be charged higher premiums and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. That is why you should get as many quotes as possible. It's just too difficult to predict which car insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More tips and info about car insurance can be read at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. Consumers can read consumer alerts, report car insurance fraud, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, someone sacrificed full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Low-cost car insurance can be bought from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Oakland agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some car insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

You just learned many tips how you can reduce car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising.