Car Insurance in Sun Valley - 8 Discounts You Might be Forgetting

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy high-priced car insurance? Believe me when I say there are lots of people in the same boat. Because you have many car insurance companies to choose from, it's nearly impossible to pick the best car insurance company.

It's important to check car insurance prices every six months since rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So just block out anything you think you know about car insurance because we're going to show you the only way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

Buying affordable coverage in Sun Valley is simple if you know the tricks. If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you can follow these tips to get lower rates and still get good coverage. California drivers only need an understanding of the tricks to compare company rates online.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there are discounts available that many people don't even know exist. Some discounts apply automatically when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied before you get the savings. If you don't get every credit possible, you're paying more than you need to.

Discount for Good Grades - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on the same car insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Anti-lock Brake System - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
E-sign - Certain companies will give a small break simply for signing online.
Memberships - Belonging to a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
No Charge for an Accident - Some insurance companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free prior to the accident.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of providers offering car insurance discounts in California, click here to view.

How to Compare Car Insurance in Sun Valley, California

Comparing car insurance rates can take time and effort if you aren't aware of the most efficient way to do it. You can waste a lot of time driving to local insurance agents in Sun Valley, or you could save time and use online quoting for quick rates.

Many insurance companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to send in one quote, and each participating company can provide price quotes based on that information. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions to each individual car insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The only drawback to comparing rates this way is you don't know exactly which carriers you will receive quotes from. If you prefer to choose specific providers to receive pricing from, we have a listing of car insurance companies in California. Click here for list of insurance companies in California.

It's up to you which method you use, but ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If the quotes have different liability limits it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Sun Valley.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers can't get away from ads that promise big savings by companies like State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make an identical promise of big savings if you switch to them.

But how can every company make the same claim?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a preferred risk could be over the age of 50, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. Any new insured who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will be charged a higher premium and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's the way insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings.

That is why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's just too difficult to predict which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Best coverage at the best price

You just learned some good ideas how you can compare car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from a small local company. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like .

Low-cost car insurance can be found from both online companies and with local Sun Valley insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers do not offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you shop your coverage around, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Learn more about California car insurance

Additional car insurance information is available on the website for the California Department of Insurance located here. Consumers can file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, find out industry alerts, and read consumer alerts.

Additional helpful sites include NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of insurance agents in Sun Valley California.