Sick and tired of sacrificing other expenses to pay auto insurance each month? Your situation is no different than the majority of other vehicle owners in California. Insurance companies such as Allstate, Progressive and Geico constantly bombard you with ad campaigns and it is difficult to ignore the flying pigs and cute green geckos and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
Consumers need to take a look at other company’s rates before your policy renews because prices fluctuate regularly. Just because you found the best rate a year ago a different company probably has better premium rates today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the right way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.
Comparing auto insurance rates is a ton of work if you aren’t aware of the most efficient way. You could spend your day driving to local insurance agents in Antioch, or you can utilize online quotes for quick rates.
The majority of car insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to submit their information once, and each participating company returns a competitive quote based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests for each company you want a rate for. To find out how much you can save on auto insurance click here to open in new window.
The one downside to comparing rates this way is that you can’t choose which providers you will receive quotes from. If you would rather choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have a listing of auto insurance companies in California. Click here for list of insurance companies in California.
Compare rates however you want, just ensure you are comparing the same quote information for every company. If each company quotes mixed coverages it will be very difficult to get a fair rate comparison in Antioch. Just slight variations in coverages could mean much higher rates. Just keep in mind that comparing a wide range of rates helps increase your odds of locating better pricing. Not every company does online rate quotes, so you also need to get price quotes on coverage from those companies, too.
Discounts can really help lower rates
Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise all possible discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of both the well known and the more hidden credits available to lower your premiums when you .
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with anti-lock braking systems can stop better under adverse conditions and will save you 10% or more.
- Buy New and Save – Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less since newer vehicles are generally safer.
- Discount for Passive Restraints – Options like air bags or motorized seat belts may get savings of 25 to 30%.
- Discount for Low Mileage – Low annual miles may allow you to get substantially lower rates.
- Bundled Policy Discount – If you can bundle your home and auto insurance and place coverage with the same company you could earn a discount of up to 20% and get you .
- Federal Government Employee – Federal government employees may qualify for a discount when you with certain companies.
A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won’t be that lucky. But any discount will lower the amount you have to pay.
A few of the larger companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts are included below.
- Travelers has savings for hybrid/electric vehicle, student away at school, IntelliDrive, continuous insurance, save driver, and new car.
- 21st Century offers discounts including 55 and older, teen driver, defensive driver, driver training, air bags, and homeowners.
- State Farm has discounts for accident-free, passive restraint, defensive driving training, anti-theft, good driver, and Drive Safe & Save.
- Geico includes discounts for seat belt use, daytime running lights, air bags, federal employee, driver training, anti-lock brakes, and good student.
- SAFECO offers premium reductions for bundle discounts, accident prevention training, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft, safe driver, and teen safe driver.
- AAA may include discounts for anti-theft, pay-in-full, good driver, education and occupation, and multi-car.
When comparing rates, check with each company or agent what discounts are available to you. Some discounts listed above might not be offered in Antioch. If you would like to choose from a list of insurance companies with the best discounts in California, click here.
When to have guidance from a local insurance agent
Some people just prefer to get advice from a local agent and that can be a great decision One of the best bonuses of getting free rate quotes online is that drivers can save money and get lower rates and still buy from a local agent. Putting coverage with local agencies is still important in Antioch.
By using this quick form, the coverage information is immediately sent to companies in Antioch who will give you bids to get your business. It’s much easier because you don’t need to find an agent because quoted prices will be sent to you. You can find better rates without requiring a lot of work. In the event you want to get a price quote for a specific company, you just need to search and find their rate quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.
Multiple types of auto insurance agents in Antioch
If you want to use a reliable agent, it can be helpful to understand the types of insurance agents and how they work. Auto insurance policy providers are classified as either captive or independent.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Agents in the independent channel can sell policies from many different companies so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your premiums go up, they simply switch companies in-house and you can keep the same agent. If you need lower rates, it’s recommended you get some free quotes from at least one independent agent in order to compare the most rates.
Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Antioch that may be able to give you price quotes.
Lewis Insurance – 1104 Buchanan Rd – Antioch, CA 94509 – (925) 757-4721
Monica Yao Insurance – 1614 A St – Antioch, CA 94509 – (925) 777-0671
Captive Agencies
Agents of this type can only write with one company like AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. Captives cannot shop your coverage around so they really need to provide good service. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.
The following are captive agents in Antioch willing to provide price quote information.
Allstate Insurance – 2730 Lone Tree Way # 3 – Antioch, CA 94509 – (925) 757-3270
Jim Lanter State Farm Ins – 716 W 2nd St – Antioch, CA 94509 – (925) 776-7717
To view insurance agencies in your area, feel free to link to this directory of Antioch, CA insurance agents.
Deciding on an insurance agency needs to be determined by more than just a cheap quote. Here are some questions you should ask.
- Do they offer rental car reimbursement?
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in California?
- Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
- Which companies can they place coverage with?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Will the agent help in case of a claim?
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
What is the best auto insurance coverage?
When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions can aid in determining if you may require specific advice.
- Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
- Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
- Do I qualify for additional discounts?
- Do I need higher deductibles?
- Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
- Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
- Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
- Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.
More information can be read on the website for the California Department of Insurance found here. California drivers can find disaster information, read industry bulletins, and download brochures.
Additional helpful sites include this page for auto insurance in California and this link which helps you find a Antioch agent.
Auto insurance coverage basics
Having a good grasp of a auto insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are the usual coverages available from auto insurance companies.
Coverage for medical payments
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses such as surgery, dental work, pain medications, hospital visits and ambulance fees. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers you and your occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your vehicle.
Due to the fact that many California drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (15/30/5), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Liability auto insurance
This can cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see limits of 100/300/100 that translate to $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability coverage protects against things like attorney fees, emergency aid and repair costs for stationary objects. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but consider buying as much as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15,000/30,000/5,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.
Collision coverage protection
Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers things like hitting a mailbox, driving through your garage door, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a parking meter and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive coverages
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as vandalism, theft and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Persistence pays off
As you prepare to switch companies, never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your objective should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.
You just read a lot of techniques to lower your auto insurance premium rates. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better likelihood of getting . Drivers may discover the biggest savings come from the smaller companies. These companies can often provide lower prices in certain areas than their larger competitors like State Farm and Allstate.