Easy Techniques to Pay Less on Orange Cove Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the crazy number of auto insurance company choices in Orange Cove? Lot's of other consumers are too. You have so many options available that it can turn into a big hassle to locate the lowest price.

It's important to compare rates every six months because prices are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out one of the best ways to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies offering auto insurance don't always publicize every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount possible, you are throwing money away.

  • Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
  • Multiple Vehicles - Buying coverage for multiple vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
  • Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
  • No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Some companies give better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.

It's important to note that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you're out of luck.

California auto insurance

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

  • Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even a single moving violation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who get flagrant violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
  • Do you know your deductibles? - Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Men pay higher rates - Statistics demonstrate women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Women and men are in accidents in similar percentages, but men have costlier accidents. Men also get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving. Young males tend to get in the most accidents and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
  • Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations like lawyers, architects and dentists tend to have the highest average rates in part from high stress and lengthy work days. Other occupations such as actors, historians and performers receive lower rates.
  • Rural vs Urban Areas - Choosing to live in a rural area has it's advantages when insuring your vehicles. Lower population translates into fewer accidents. Drivers in populated California areas regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Higher commute times can result in more accidents.
  • How credit affects auto insurance rates - Your credit history is a huge factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. If your credit history is not that good, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with lower credit scores.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

California consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings by State Farm and Allstate. All the ads say the same thing that you can save after switching to their company.

How can each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be a mature driver, has no driving citations, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Consumers who are not a match for the requirements will be charged higher rates which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can advertise the way they do. That is why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Learn more about California auto insurance

Additional detailed information can be found at the California Department of Insurance website. California consumers can file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, and learn about insurance regulations.

A tidy conclusion

You just read a lot of information how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with a smaller regional carrier.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be bought online and also from your neighborhood Orange Cove agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.