Car Insurance in Porterville - 8 Discounts You Might be Losing Out On

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me, you're not the only one. Big-name insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive persitently shower you with TV and radio ads and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to compare rates at least once a year since rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price a couple years back you will most likely find a better rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you're about to find out the only way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can learn to find better prices and still get good coverage. Finding affordable coverage in Porterville is easy if you know what you're doing. California vehicle owners just need to know the proper way to compare company rates online.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't list all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we researched some of the more common and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance. If you aren't receiving every discount possible, you are throwing money away.

55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for better car insurance rates.
Defensive Driver - Taking a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
Anti-theft System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Service Members Pay Less - Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
Braking Control Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Auto/Life Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with better rates if you take out life insurance from them.
Drive Less and Save - Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
Passive Restraints - Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.

Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don't profit that way.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings by Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to make the same claim that you'll save big if you switch to their company.

How can each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured could be between 25 and 40, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any new insured who matches those parameters will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Drivers who don't measure up to the requirements will have to pay a higher premium which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's the way companies can advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, 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 detailed California car insurance information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, and view a list of available companies.

A tidy conclusion

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are many occasions where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price.

Discount car insurance can be found from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Porterville agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some car insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.