10 Best Tips to Cut Auto Insurance Costs in Fremont California

Have you had enough of not being able to afford to pay your car insurance bill each month? You’re in the same situation as most other car owners in California.

Insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Farmers Insurance continually bombard you with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to see past the corporate glitz and find the best price available.

How much can you save with these ten discounts?

Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both the well known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

  • Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
  • Organization Discounts – Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings on your policy.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • Discount for New Cars – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
  • Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.

It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky.

To see a list of insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in California, click here to view.

How much car insurance do I need?

When it comes to buying adequate coverage, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions could help you determine whether you may require specific advice.

  • Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
  • Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
  • What are the best liability limits?
  • When should I not file a claim?
  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
  • Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Even more information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to find out which companies have the most complaints, report car insurance fraud, and find disaster information.

The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in FremontAuto insurance in Fremont

Auto insurance coverages

Understanding the coverages of auto insurance helps when choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Liability car insurance – Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for things such as emergency aid, bail bonds and repair costs for stationary objects. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. California requires minimum liability limits of 15,000/30,000/5,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.

Comprehensive auto coverage – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like damage from getting keyed, fire damage, vandalism and hail damage. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for immediate expenses for things like funeral costs, nursing services, X-ray expenses and pain medications. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Collision coverage – This coverage will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers claims like driving through your garage door, crashing into a building, damaging your car on a curb, hitting a parking meter and hitting a mailbox. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Fremont CA insurance comparisons

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits (15/30/5), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

We’ve covered many ideas to compare auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the most savings is with an unexpected company. These companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.

Cost effective auto insurance can be found online and also from your neighborhood Fremont agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.