Tightwads Instructions on Saving on Union City Car Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can overdraw your personal savings and force you to make sacrifices. Comparison shopping is free and is an excellent way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

Lots of contend to insure your vehicles, and because of this it can be hard to compare to get the lowest rate

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using this strategy. Finding the best rates in Union City is not that difficult. Although California consumers do need to know the methods companies use to market insurance on the web and apply this information to your search.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies don't always advertise every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find both the well known and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance.

  • Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
  • Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance.
  • Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
  • Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
  • Student Driver Training - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver's ed class if offered at their school.
  • Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially when compared to drivers who are more careless.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

Tips to Get Lower Union City Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate prices.

  • Claim-free discounts can add up - If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Companies in California give better rates to insureds who do not file claims often. Your insurance policy is intended for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Lower miles equals lower premium - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the higher your rate. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your car insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Drive a safer car and pay less - Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
  • Policy add-ons can waste money - There are quite a few add-on coverages that can waste your money when buying car insurance. Coverages like rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.
  • Men are more aggressive - Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. Now that doesn't mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes are in accidents in similar percentages, but the men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also statistically have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions can help discover whether you could use an agent's help.

  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Car insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads on television and other media. They all make the same claim about savings if you change your coverage to them. How do they all claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer might be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and has a short commute. Any driver who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who are not a match for the "perfect" profile will be quoted higher premiums which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state "drivers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company's rates. You cannot predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Learn more about car insurance in California

Even more information can be found at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find disaster information, and discover disciplinary actions.

California car insurance quotes

Affordable insurance is out there

As you shop your coverage around, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

The cheapest car insurance is attainable both online as well as from independent agents in Union City, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.