Buy Glendale, CA Auto Insurance Like a Bargain Hunter

Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me, there are lots of people in the same boat.

Because there are so many companies to choose from, it is very difficult to pick the lowest cost insurer.

You need to compare prices on a regular basis since rates fluctuate regularly. If you had the lowest rates two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Starting right now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re going to learn the best methods to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Car insurance can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you complete an application, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about before they will apply.

  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
  • Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies with one company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Memberships – Belonging to a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates on auto insurance.
  • No Claims – Drivers who don’t have accidents can earn big discounts compared to frequent claim filers.
  • Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.
  • Multi-car Discount – Insuring more than one vehicle with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
  • New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Anti-theft Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Save over 55 – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don’t profit that way. But all discounts will bring down your premiums.

For a list of insurers with discount auto insurance rates in California, click this link.

Compare Glendale Auto Insurance Costs

Most major insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive allow you to get coverage prices directly from their websites. Getting quotes is pretty easy as you simply enter the coverages you want as requested by the quote form. Behind the scenes, their system automatically retrieves information on your driving record and credit history and generates pricing information based on these and other factors. Being able to quote online makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the time required to go to many different websites and enter the same data into a form is monotonous and tiresome. But it is imperative to do this if you are searching for the best price possible.

There is a better way to compare rates

A more efficient way to lower your rates makes use of a single form that obtains quotes from a lot of companies. This type of form saves time, requires much less work on your part, and makes comparison shopping much more enjoyable and efficient. Immediately after you send the form, your coverage is rated with multiple companies and you can pick your choice of the quotes returned.Glendale CA car insurance quote

If a lower price is quoted, it’s easy to complete the application and purchase coverage. The whole process takes just a few minutes to complete and could lower your rates considerably.

In order to find out if lower rates are available, simply click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you type in the coverage information as shown on your current policy. Doing this guarantees you’re receiving an apples-to-apples comparison for similar coverage.

Educated Consumers Know How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

  • Where you live – Being located in less populated areas can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities tend to have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
  • Younger drivers pay higher rates – Youthful drivers in California have a tendency to get distracted easily when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. If you’ve ever had to add a teenage driver to your policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment – Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all hinder auto theft.
  • Please use or commuting – The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance policy is rated on how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
  • How many coverages with the same company – Some auto insurance companies provide better rates to insureds who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal. Drivers may still find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
  • Traffic violations increase rates – Whether or not you get tickets has a huge affect on how much you pay. Drivers who don’t get tickets receive lower rates than bad drivers. Only having one citation can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers with serious tickets such as DUI or reckless driving are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
  • An active claims history can cost you – Companies in California generally give lower rates to insureds who are claim-free. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
  • Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
  • Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
  • How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in California?
  • Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
  • Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
  • Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?

If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Do drivers who switch really save?

Auto insurance providers like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all have a common claim of big savings if you change to their company. How can each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies can use profiling for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a profitable customer might be between 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a high credit rating. A propective insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will have to pay a more expensive rate which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently state the savings.

Because of the profiling, it is so important to get as many quotes as possible. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

compare rates in Glendale CA

Shop smart and save

In this article, we presented many ideas to lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

When shopping online for auto insurance, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, drivers have reduced liability coverage limits and learned later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

More information can be found on the website for the California Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, view a list of available companies, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

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