5 Ways to Save on Auto Insurance in Oxnard, CA

Finding lower rates for Oxnard auto insurance is always challenging for consumers new to comparing rates online. Consumers have so many options that it can be a real hassle to find the best price in Oxnard.

The purpose of this post is to help educate you on how car insurance quotes work. If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. But California drivers need to have an understanding of how companies market on the web.

Auto Insurance Comparison Rates in Oxnard

There are several ways to compare rate quotes from different in Oxnardinsurance companies. The easiest way by far to find the cheapest insurance rates is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The recommended way to get the best comparison quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This form prevents you from having to do separate quote forms for each company you want a rate for. Filling out one form gets rate comparisons from multiple low-cost companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.

A harder way to compare prices requires you to visit each individual company website to request a price quote. For example, let’s assume you want to compare Allstate, 21st Century and Farmers. You would have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Oxnard, click here.

The hardest way of comparing rate quotes is driving around to insurance agents’ offices. The internet can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you require the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. Drivers can obtain prices from the web and get advice from an agent in your area. We’ll cover that shortly.

Whichever way you use, make darn sure you compare exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles for each price quote. If you enter differing limits it will be next to impossible to find the best deal in Oxnard. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. Just remember that getting more free quotes will enable you to find a better price.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Car insurance is not cheap, but there are discounts available to help bring down the price. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount.

• Auto/Life Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy auto and life insurance together.
• Safety Course Discount – Completing a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
• No Claims – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less when compared with accident-prone drivers.
• Student Driver Training – Have your child enroll in driver’s education in high school.
• Paperless Signup – A handful of insurance companies will give a small break for buying your policy on their website.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way. But all discounts will reduce your premiums.

For a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Oxnard, click here.

Auto insurance coverage options

Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Auto insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Collision coverages – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for claims like backing into a parked car, hitting a mailbox and rolling your car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Comprehensive auto insurance – Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like fire damage, vandalism, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, theft and hail damage. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Liability auto insurance – Liability coverage provides protection from damage that occurs to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects you against other people’s claims. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see policy limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage pays for things like emergency aid, funeral expenses, court costs, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying 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 more liability than the minimum.

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 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. Usually these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Coverage for medical expenses – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills for surgery, dental work, ambulance fees and doctor visits. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to you and your occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

More information can be found on the California Department of Insurance website through this link. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, read industry bulletins, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.