Easy Methods to Pay Less on Ventura Auto Insurance

Comparing Ventura auto insurance rates online may seem to be difficult if you have never used online quotes. But don't let that discourage you because there is an easy way to compare rates.

It's important to compare rates periodically since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest price two years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the web, but we're going to give you some great ways to reduce your auto insurance bill.

If you have car insurance now, you should be able to cut costs considerably using this information. Shopping for the lowest cost auto insurance in Ventura is easy if you know what you're doing. Nevertheless, California vehicle owners do need to know how the larger insurance companies sell online because it can help you find the best coverage.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

  • How credit affects auto insurance rates - Your credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower ratings. If your credit is low, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score.
  • A clean driving record saves money - Even a single citation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Careful drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who get dangerous violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Protect yourself with liability coverage - Your policy's liability coverage is the coverage that protects you in the event that a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides legal defense starting from day one. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates - Insurance companies in California give cheaper rates to policyholders who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.

Ventura auto insurance quote

How to Get Ventura Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

Performing a rate comparison can be challenging if you don't understand the easiest way. You can spend your afternoon discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Ventura, or you could save time and use the web to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most of the larger companies belong to an insurance system that allows shoppers to submit their information once, and every company can give them a price determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do quotation requests to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The single downside to using this type of form is buyers cannot specifically choose which providers you want to price. So if you prefer to choose specific providers to request quotes from, we have a listing of auto insurance companies in California. Click here to view list.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just be sure to compare exactly the same quote information for every company. If your comparisons have mixed coverages it's not possible to decipher which rate is best in Ventura. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits may result in a large different in cost. Keep in mind that getting more free quotes will increase your chances of finding a better price.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at quote time, but a few must be specially asked for in order for you to get them.

  • Braking Control Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
  • Good Student - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
  • Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on your policy.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver's ed class if offered at their school.
  • Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
  • Service Members Pay Less - Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.

It's important to understand that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose providers with discount auto insurance rates in Ventura, click this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the ads make the same claim of big savings if you change to their company. How can each company say the same thing?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a preferred risk might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to the requirements will be charged more money which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently state the savings.

That is why you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • Am I getting all the discounts available?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.

Additional auto insurance information is located on the California Department of Insurance website located here. California drivers can find out industry alerts, file complaints about a company, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

California auto insurance

Affordable insurance is out there

When buying insurance coverage, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, someone dropped collision coverage and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Throughout this article, we presented many ideas to compare auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the least-expected company.

Low-cost auto insurance can be sourced on the web and also from your neighborhood Ventura agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.