Easy Tips to Pay Less on Sonoma Car Insurance

Price shopping your Sonoma car insurance is hard for consumers new to comparing rates online. People have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find the best price in Sonoma.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies don't always publicize every discount very clearly, so we researched both the well known and the more hidden ways to save on car insurance.

  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Claim Free - Claim-free drivers pay much less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Paperwork-free - Certain companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.
  • Distant Student - Any of your kids who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like it's possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn't work that way.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Car insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads on television and other media. They all make the same claim that you can save after switching your coverage to them. How does each company claim to save you money?

All companies can use profiling for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer might be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. Any driver who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Drivers who are not a match for these standards will be quoted a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. That's why insurance companies can make those claims. This emphasizes why you should get a wide range of price quotes. You cannot predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

Additional detailed information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, and get help finding coverage.

Affordable insurance is out there

Insureds change insurance companies for many reasons like being labeled a high risk driver, high rates after DUI convictions, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and even not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding the right car insurance provider is less work than it seems.

Affordable car insurance can be sourced both online as well as from independent agents in Sonoma, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, it's very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced collision coverage and learned later they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.