9 Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance in Glendale
Shopping for the cheapest Glendale car insurance over the internet may be intimidating for consumers new to buying insurance on the web. With a ridiculous number of online companies, how can consumers effectively compare every one to find the cheapest rates?
This article will introduce you to how to get online quotes and some tips to save money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to save some money using this strategy. Although California car owners must know how companies price insurance differently and take advantage of how the system works.
Compare the Market for Car Insurance in Glendale, California
All the larger car insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO quote prices for coverage online. Obtaining pricing is quite simple as you just type in your coverage preferences into a form. Once you submit the form, their rating system gets reports for credit and driving violations and quotes a price.
Quoting online makes comparing rates easy, but the time it takes to visit different websites and type in the same information can be a bit repetitive. But it’s absolutely necessary to perform this step in order to get the best price on car insurance.
A more efficient way to lower your rates uses one simple form that obtains quotes from a lot of companies. The form is fast, requires less work, and makes rate comparisons much more enjoyable and efficient. After sending your information, it gets priced and you are able to buy any one of the pricing results.
If you find a better price you can click and sign and purchase the new policy. The entire process can be completed in a matter of minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.
To quickly find out if lower rates are available, click here and fill out the form. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you copy the coverages as shown on your current policy. Doing this assures you will receive rate comparison quotes based on identical coverages.
Advertising myths
Car insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. They all seem to make an identical promise of big savings if you switch your coverage to them. But how can every company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.
All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer they prefer to insure. For instance, a driver they prefer might be profiled as between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.
Potential customers who do not match the “perfect” profile must pay higher premiums which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can advertise the savings.
This illustrates why you should get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Cut your car insurance rates with these nine discounts
Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will automatically apply when you purchase, but a few must be requested specifically in order for you to get them.
- Federal Government Employee – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accidents.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who require all occupants to use their safety belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
- Memberships – Participating in certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on car insurance.
- Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy life insurance from them.
- Multiple Policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
- Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply the the whole policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Just because you may think it’s possible to get free car insurance, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your premiums.
For a list of insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts in California, follow this link.
You are unique and your car insurance should be too
When buying proper insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.
Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in California?
- Are my friends covered when driving my vehicle?
- Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
- What if I total my vehicle and owe more than it’s worth?
- What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in California?
- Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
- Am I getting all the discounts available?
- When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
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 an agent in your area, complete this form.
Additional car insurance information can be read on the California Department of Insurance website located here. California drivers can download brochures, view agent and company licensing information, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and read state legal mandates and laws.
The following information may also be useful.
Information about specific coverages
Knowing the specifics of car insurance can be of help when determining which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. Car insurance terms can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.
Since many California drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Usually the UM/UIM limits are set the same as your liablity limits.
Liability auto insurance
This provides protection from damage that occurs to other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects YOU against other people’s claims. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability can pay for things like medical expenses, medical services, attorney fees and legal defense fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but buy as much as you can afford. California requires drivers to carry at least 15,000/30,000/5,000 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.
Comprehensive coverage
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as falling objects, rock chips in glass and damage from flooding. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Collision coverage
Collision 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 and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as hitting a mailbox, rolling your car, sustaining damage from a pot hole and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for bills such as chiropractic care, dental work, doctor visits and EMT expenses. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers all vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Keep this in mind
In this article, we covered some good ideas how to compare car insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from the least-expected company.
When you buy insurance online, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are too many instances where an insured cut collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
Low-cost car insurance is possible on the web as well as from independent agents in Glendale, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.