Definitely, comparing prices is the best way to find cheap car insurance in California. Even though getting quotes from several agents may seem like a tedious and time-consuming process, it can save you a lot of money. When you're ready to start looking for low rates, the most important thing to keep in mind is what coverage you must have and what coverage you can skip.
If you drive an older car, you might only want to buy the minimum amount of liability insurance that your state requires. This adds up to $15,000 for the medical bills of one injured person, $30,000 for the medical bills of two or more injured people, and another $5,000 to pay for the person you hit's car. Obviously, this coverage won't be enough if you hit a brand-new minivan and hurt a whole family.
Compare low-cost insurance rates to find a policy that gives you enough coverage so that if you cause an accident, you won't have to go bankrupt. If your car is fairly new, you should also ask about collision and full coverage. These protect you in case your own car gets broken and needs to be fixed or replaced.
You'll have to tell them about any accidents you've caused in the past and how many speeding tickets you've gotten. The agents will also ask about your age, how many miles you drive on average every week or month, and what kind of car you want to insure.
Ask each agent you talk to how long the policy they are giving you a quote on is and how they prefer to be paid. This will help you figure out which company has the lowest rates over a six-month or even a year-long period.
Many people in California can't afford car insurance, which is a shame. Some of these people have to drive without insurance because the only other option is to not drive at all. This is never a good idea, and many people in this situation can get coverage through California's Low Cost Auto Insurance Program. Who qualifies and who doesn't depends on the age of the car and how much money everyone in the home makes.
People who don't qualify for this coverage need to find insurance that fits their needs and doesn't cost too much. In California, the best way to find the best rates on car insurance is to be ready when you go shopping for quotes.
When asked, insurance agents will give a price, but drivers should know that this is usually not the best price they can get. The reason is that most insurance companies in California that cover cars have discount programmes in place. This means that the quoted price will go down if the driver is eligible for the discount.
Here are some examples of possible discounts:
- Multi-policy discount. People who choose one insurance company for more than one type of coverage can get this. For example, getting both health insurance and car insurance from the same company.
- Safety discount, which is usually given to cars that have a security system or are parked in a garage.
- Retirement discount. When a person retires, they usually spend less time getting to and from work each day. Many insurance companies offer discounts for people who are retired. Also, drivers over the age of 65 can get a discount if they take a defensive driving course after they reach retirement age.
- Discount on air bags and brakes that don't lock up.
- A discount for low mileage.
If you get quotes from more than one insurance agent, the prices you get may be different. This makes it easier for the driver to make sure they are getting the best coverage for their money, since they can choose the company they think has the best rates for the most coverage.
