Compare Auto Insurance Rates for a GMC Sonoma

Feel like you’re a prisoner to an overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me, you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. With consumers having so many companies to choose from, it can be impossible to locate the best company.

Consumers need to compare rates once or twice a year because rates tend to go up over time. If you had the best price for Sonoma coverage a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re about to find out the only way to buy cheaper auto insurance.

Locating the lowest cost protection is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you are insured now or are shopping for new coverage, you can use these tips to reduce the price you pay and possibly find even better coverage. Drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to compare prices online.

Compare Auto Insurance Costs

All major auto insurance companies such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO allow you to get coverage price quotes on their websites. Getting quotes is pretty painless as you just type in your personal and coverage information as requested by the quote form. After you complete the form, their system obtains credit information and your driving record and gives you a price quote determined by many factors. Online price quotes helps simplify price comparisons, but the time it takes to visit each company’s website and repetitively enter the same data into a form is monotonous and tiresome. But it’s very important to do this in order to get the lowest possible prices on auto insurance.

Quote rates the easy way

A less time-consuming method to lower your auto insurance bill is to use a quote form that gets price quotes from a lot of companies. The form is fast, requires less work, and makes rate comparisons much more efficient. Immediately after submitting the form, it is quoted with multiple companies and you can pick any one of the returned quotes.

If a lower price is quoted, you can simply submit the application and buy the new coverage. It takes 15 minutes at the most and can result in significant savings.

To compare pricing, click here to open in a new tab and fill out the form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you input your coverages exactly as shown on your declarations page. This ensures you’re receiving a fair comparison for the exact same coverage.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers constantly see and hear ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. All the ads have a common claim that you’ll save big if you move to them.

How can each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a profitable customer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. Any driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching. car insurance

Potential insureds who fall outside the requirements must pay higher prices and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s why insurance companies can claim big savings.

This illustrates why it is so important to get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Pay less by taking advantage of discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you may find discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some trigger automatically at the time of purchase, but some must be manually applied before you get the savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

New Car Discount – Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
Driver Safety – Successfully completing a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner can save you money because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
Pay Now and Pay Less – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents can pay as much as 50% less for Sonoma coverage than drivers with accident claims.

Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts, click here to view.

Don’t I need to talk to an agent?

Some people just want to get advice from a local agent and that is OK! Licensed agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help you file claims. The best thing about comparing rates online is you may find lower rates and still choose a local agent. Buying from local businesses is especially important if you live in a smaller city or town.

Upon completion of this short form, your coverage information is sent to companies who will battle for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy!

Different types of car insurance agents

When searching for local agents, there are a couple of different types of agents to choose from. agents can either be captive or independent. Either one can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the differences since it may influence the type of agent you choose

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.

Captive Agents

These agents are contracted to one company and some examples include Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage.

To view a complete directory of auto insurance agents, visit this page.

Picking an insurance agency requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Here are some questions to ask:

How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
How long has their agency been in business?
Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
Can they give you a list of client referrals?
Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?

After receiving acceptable answers to any questions you have and an acceptable price quote, most likely you have located an insurance agency that will service your policy.

How much car insurance do I need?

When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions might help in determining whether you could use an agent’s help.

Am I covered when driving a rental car?
Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
At what point should I drop full coverage?
Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in my state?
What are no-fault laws?
How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.

Keep this in mind

Cost effective GMC Sonoma insurance can be purchased both online in addition to many insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not provide online quoting and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to regret that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.