How to Find the Cheapest Price on Oakland, CA Car Insurance

Cutting costs on Oakland car insurance can seem to be nearly impossible for people who are new to comparison shopping online. There are so many options that it can turn into a real challenge to locate the lowest price in Oakland.

It’s a good idea to check car insurance prices once or twice a year since insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you had the best price six months ago other companies may now be cheaper. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the things you must know in order to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using this strategy. Locating more affordable protection in Oakland is not that difficult. But California vehicle owners must understand how big insurance companies sell insurance online and take advantage of how the system works.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that go into determining car insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better car insurance rates.

• Small claims can cost you – If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance companies in California give better rates to insureds who do not file claims often. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
• Low deductibles can be expensive – Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay before your car insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The more expense you’re willing to pay, the less your car insurance will be.
• Bundling policies can get discounts – Some insurers will give a discount to customers who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
• Choose a safe vehicle and save – Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
• Your spouse saves you money – Being married helps lower the price on car insurance. It translates into being more mature and responsible and it’s statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
• Do you have a high stress job? – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like doctors, architects and accountants tend to have higher rates than average because of high stress and lengthy work days. On the flip side, occupations such as pilots, athletes and homemakers receive lower rates.

How to Compare Car Insurance in Oakland, CA

When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways to get quotes from different in Oakland, CAinsurance companies. One of the best ways to find competitive insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison. It is quite easy and can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

• Probably the best way to find low rates would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This form eliminates the need for separate quote forms for each company. One simple form will return quotes instantly. Just one form and you’re done.
• A less efficient way to shop for car insurance online requires visiting each company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, let’s assume you want to compare rates from Farmers, Progressive and American Family. To find out each rate you need to visit each site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is more popular.

  For a list of links to insurance companies in Oakland, click here.

• The most time-consuming method of getting rate comparisons is driving to local Oakland insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the personal advice that only a license agent can provide. Drivers can get prices online and still use a local agent and we’ll talk about that later.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using the exact same quote information on every quote you get. If your comparisons have different liability limits you can’t possibly find the best deal in Oakland. Slightly different insurance coverages may result in a large different in cost. It’s important to know that getting more free quotes helps you find the best rates.

Cut your car insurance rates with discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise all available discounts very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using.

• Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
• Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for better car insurance rates.
• New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
• Safety Course Discount – Completing a driver safety course can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
• Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
• Homeowners Savings – Simply owning a home can save you money because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To choose insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Oakland, follow this link.

Your insurance agent down the street

Certain consumers would rather talk to a local agent. The best thing about comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.

After completing this quick form, your information is sent to participating agents in Oakland who will give you bids to get your business. You never need to drive around since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy! Get lower rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

Deciding on an insurer needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:

• Can they give you a list of client referrals?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
• How long has their agency been open in Oakland?
• Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
• Who are their largest clients?
• How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?

Different types of insurance agents in Oakland

If you’re trying to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are a couple of types of agencies from which to choose. Oakland agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents can only place business with one company like Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so always compare other rates. They receive extensive training on the products they sell which can be an advantage. Consumers sometimes buy insurance from these agents mainly due to high brand loyalty and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

The following are captive agents in Oakland that are able to give comparison quotes.

• Farmers Insurance Group – 1563 Solano Ave – Oakland, CA 94606 – (510) 689-2772
• State Farm Insurance – 100 Webster St # 103 – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 832-3355
• Allstate Insurance – 3608 Grand Ave # 203 – Oakland, CA 94610 – (510) 451-4933

Independent Agents

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies. When shopping rates, we recommend you contact several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller companies who may have lower rates.

The following is a list of independent agencies in Oakland willing to provide comparison quotes.

• John S Allen Agency – 5301 Claremont Ave – Oakland, CA 94618 – (510) 658-2722
• Frontier General Insurance – 1000 Broadway # 390 – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 768-5300
• David E Quan Agency – 523 47th St – Oakland, CA 94609 – (510) 653-8880
• Greenarc Insurance Svc – 5707 Redwood Rd – Oakland, CA 94619 – (805) 545-5891
• Norm Young Agency – 4335 Piedmont Ave – Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 652-2004

To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in Oakland, visit this site.

Once you have received reasonable responses to your questions and locked in a price quote, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that will service your policy.

Insurance agents can help

When buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different.

These are some specific questions might point out if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
• How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
• What are California no-fault laws?
• Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Oakland?
• How much liability coverage do I need in California?
• Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
• How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in California?
• Am I covered when driving a rental car?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form.

Additional detailed information can be read at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and download brochures.

In the end, you save

In this article, we covered a lot of techniques to compare car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even discover the best prices are with a small local company.

The cheapest car insurance is available on the web as well as from independent agents in Oakland, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

Consumers change insurance companies for any number of reasons including denial of a claim, extreme rates for teen drivers, delays in responding to claim requests or being labeled a high risk driver. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a great new company can be easier than you think.