Find Cheap Santa Ynez Auto Insurance

Shopping for the lowest cost Santa Ynez auto insurance on the internet can be challenging for beginners to shopping for insurance online. With dozens of choices, how can consumers even start to compare every one to find the lowest price available?

It's important to compare rates on a regular basis since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best rates last year you may be paying too much now. Don't believe everything you read about auto insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to slash your auto insurance rates.

How to Lower Your Auto Insurance Cost in Santa Ynez, California

Getting better auto insurance pricing can be relatively painless. Consumers just need to invest a little time comparing rates provided by online insurance companies. This can be done using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This method prevents you from having to do separate forms for every auto insurance company. One form submission gets you price quotes from several companies. It's definitely the quickest method.

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online requires a trip to each individual company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, let's assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Santa Ynez, click here.

Which method you use is up to you, but ensure you are comparing identical quote information on every quote you get. If you are comparing mixed coverages then you won't be able to determine which rate is truly the best in Santa Ynez.

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand some of the elements that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • Marriage brings a discount - Getting married helps lower the price when buying auto insurance. It means you're more mature and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • High deductibles save money - Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, or theft. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
  • Rural vs Urban Areas - Residing in a rural area can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. City drivers have to deal with much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate.
  • Older drivers save more - Teenage drivers in California have a tendency to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Adding a teenage driver to your auto insurance policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
  • How credit affects auto insurance rates - Credit score is a big factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit ratings. If your credit is low, you could be paying less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Auto insurance companies don't always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you're just leaving money on the table.

  • Sign Online - Certain companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.
  • Multiple Cars - Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Some companies give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
  • College Student - Children living away from home attending college and don't have a car can receive lower rates.

It's important to note that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, you're out of luck.

For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in California, follow this link.

Additional detailed information can be read at the California Department of Insurance website. California drivers can get help finding coverage, report car insurance fraud, and view a list of available companies.

Other useful links include this site for California auto insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Santa Ynez.

A tidy conclusion

Lower-priced auto insurance can be sourced on the web and also from your neighborhood Santa Ynez agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.

In this article, we covered a lot of information how to lower your auto insurance rates. It's most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies.