New Strategies for Cutting Costs on on Bakersfield Auto Insurance

No one in their right mind enjoys paying for auto insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high.

Because you have many insurance providers from which to choose, it can be hard to find the lowest cost company.

Smart consumers take time to compare rates on a regular basis since rates are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you had the best price two years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re about to learn how to quote online to save money, get proper deductibles and limits, all at the lowest rate.

Learn How to Lower your Rates

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate prices.

Where you live – Choosing to live in a small town has it’s advantages when insuring your vehicles. Drivers who live in large cities have to deal with congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Claim-free discounts can add up – If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance companies in California generally give lower rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Car insurance is intended for the large, substantial claims.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates – Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all aid in stopping car theft.
Low deductibles can be expensive – Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be collision with another vehicle, vandalism, and rolling your vehicle. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
Bad driving skills means higher rates – A bad driving record has a big impact on rates. Drivers with clean records get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Even a single speeding ticket may increase your cost by twenty percent. If you have flagrant violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
Liability coverage is cheap – Your policy’s liability coverage will protect you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It provides you with a defense in court starting from day one. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Bundling policies can get discounts – Some companies will award you with lower prices to policyholders who buy several policies from them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. If you currently are using one company, it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal. Drivers may still find a better deal by buying auto insurance from a different company.

Bakersfield Auto Insurance Prices Online

To find the best auto insurance prices, there are several ways of comparing rate quotes from local in Bakersfield, Californiaauto insurance companies. The easiest way to find the cheapest insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

The single most time-saving way to find low rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This type of form eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for. A single form will return price quotes from all major companies.

A more time consuming way to compare rate quotes requires a visit to the website for each individual company to request a price quote. For instance, let’s assume you want to compare rates from Progressive, Allstate and Liberty Mutual. To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular.

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

The most time-consuming method to compare rates to insurance agents’ offices. The internet can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you prefer the trained guidance of a local Bakersfield agent. You can, however, compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and you’ll learn how to do that later.

Whichever way you use, compare exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits with every price quote. If you use higher or lower deductibles you can’t possibly decipher which rate is best in Bakersfield. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits may result in large price differences. And when price shopping your coverage, quoting more will improve the odds of getting the best offered rates.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px;" src="http://www.quoteclickinsure.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ci175-88.jpg" alt="California car insurance quote”/>

Save money by taking advantage of these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list every discount very clearly, so we break down some of the best known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.

Own a Home – Owning a home in Bakersfield may trigger a auto insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Sign Online – Certain companies will give a small break for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
Employee of Federal Government – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.
College Student – Children who live away from home and don’t have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think you could get a free auto insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Bakersfield, click this link.

Are insurance agents obsolete?

Some consumers prefer to buy from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the best rates but still work with a licensed agent.

For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, your insurance data is emailed to companies in Bakersfield who will give you bids to get your business. There is no need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find better rates and work with a local agent.

Picking a company shouldn’t rely on just a low price. These are valid questions to ask:

How long has their agency been open in Bakersfield?
If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?

If you want to select a specific agent in Bakersfield, view this link.

After receiving good answers to all your questions and a low price estimate, most likely you have located an provider that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.

Will just any policy work for me?

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether or not you may require specific advice.

What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
When should I remove comp and collision on my vehicle?
Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in California?
What are the financial responsibility laws in California?
Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
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 might want to talk to 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.

Additional detailed information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, get help finding coverage, learn about specific coverages, and read industry bulletins.

Other informative sites include NAIC.org’s Understanding your Policy and this link where you can make Bakersfield auto insurance comparisons.

Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal

You just read many ways to get a better price on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Drivers may discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the least-expected company. Smaller companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like Allstate or State Farm.

Cost effective auto insurance is definitely available on the web as well as from independent agents in Bakersfield, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers don’t offer online quoting and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. Too many times, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.