Finding Low-Cost Palo Alto Auto Insurance

Nobody likes having to buy auto insurance, especially knowing their premiums are through the roof.

Because there are so many companies to choose from, it can be challenging to pick the lowest price provider.

This article will introduce you to how to get online quotes and some tricks to saving. If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Although California vehicle owners do need to know the way companies market insurance on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Take advantage of discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically prior to getting the savings.

Multiple Cars - Insuring all your vehicles on the same auto insurance policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
Safety Course Discount - Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
Claim Free - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared with bad drivers.
Accident Forgiveness - Some insurance companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums so long as you haven't had any claims prior to the accident.
Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Palo Alto can help you save on auto insurance because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

To see a list of insurers with discount auto insurance rates in California, click here to view.

Finding Auto Insurance Deals in Palo Alto, CA

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from different Palo Alto insurance companies. The best method to find the lowest rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be done using a couple different methods.

The best way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This easy form eliminates the need for boring form submissions for every auto insurance company. A single form will get you price quotes from all major companies.
A less efficient way to compare rate quotes requires a visit to each individual company website and request a quote. For example, let's say you want to compare , and . To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker. To view a list of companies in Palo Alto, click here.
The least recommended method of getting rate comparisons is to waste gas driving to and from local Palo Alto insurance agencies. Shopping for auto insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the trained guidance of a local Palo Alto agent. However, consumers can obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent and we'll touch on that later.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples coverage limits with every price quote. If you compare differing limits then you won't be able to find the best deal in Palo Alto. Quoting even small variations in coverages can result in a big premium difference. And when quoting auto insurance, remember that comparing a large number of companies provides better odds of finding better pricing.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate premiums.

Lower deductibles cost more - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. The higher the amount you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? - Some insurers will award you with lower prices to people who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
Little extras can really add up - There are quite a few additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren't careful. Things like roadside assistance, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment initially, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system can help prevent car theft.

How to know if you need help

When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions might point out whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?

If you're not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive consistently run ads on TV and radio. All the companies make an identical promise about savings if you change your coverage to them. But how can every company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a high credit rating. A propective insured who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and most likely will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't qualify for this ideal profile must pay a more expensive rate and ends up with business not being written. The ads say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That is how companies can truthfully state the savings.

This illustrates why drivers must compare as many rates as you can. It's not possible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Shop smart and save

The cheapest auto insurance is attainable on the web as well as from independent agents in Palo Alto, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies don't offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Additional information can be found on the website for the California Department of Insurance found here. California drivers can report car insurance fraud, read consumer alerts, discover disciplinary actions, and view a list of available companies.

Additional helpful sites include this page for California auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in Palo Alto, CA.