Comparing Cheap Solvang Auto Insurance

Are you tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than most other car owners in California.

Drivers have multiple to pick from, and although it's nice to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

This information will let you in on the best way to quote coverages and some tips to save money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Although California vehicle owners do need to know the methods companies use to price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.

More discounts equal less premium

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you can get discounts that many people don't even know exist. Most are applied at the time of quoting, but less common discounts must be asked for before you will receive the discount.

Seat Belts Save - Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with a few auto insurance companies.
Anti-lock Brake System - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
New Vehicle Savings - Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
Senior Discount - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
Low Mileage Discounts - Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down your premiums.

Solvang Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Always keep insurance in force - Letting your insurance expire is a guaranteed way to bump up your auto insurance costs. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but not being able to provide proof of insurance may earn you a revoked license or a big fine.You may need to file a SR-22 with the California motor vehicle department.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - Companies in California award lower rates to insureds who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee either higher rates or even cancellation. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Credit scores impact auto insurance rates - Having a bad credit score is a huge factor in your rate calculation. Therefore, if your credit is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit.
Drive less and save money - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Save money with special equipment - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder car theft.
Battle of the sexes - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Both sexes cause accidents in similar numbers, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI. Youthful male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
Safer cars are cheaper to insure - Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
Don't skimp on liability - Liability insurance will protect you when a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. They all make an identical promise about savings if you switch to their company. How does each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. A propective insured who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who do not match these standards will be quoted more money and ends up with business not being written. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's why companies can truthfully claim big savings.

This emphasizes why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more today

Additional information is located on the website for the California Department of Insurance. Click here for link. California drivers can find a variety of consumer forms, download brochures, find out industry alerts, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Also read more on this site for auto insurance information in California and this list of agents in Solvang, CA.

Do the work, save more money

When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

The cheapest auto insurance can be found on the web and also from your neighborhood Solvang agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.