Being forced to pay for high-priced insurance premiums can drain your checking account and make it hard to pay other bills. Shopping your coverage around is a smart way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.
A recent survey discovered that a large majority of drivers in California kept buying from the same company for four years or more, and virtually 40% of consumers have never shopped around. Many consumers in the U.S. can save as much as $850 each year just by shopping around, but they don’t know how much they could save if they switch to a new company.
Due to the increasing number of options when it comes to insurance, it can be hard to find the right insurance provider.
Specific coverages for a Saturn Astra
Knowing the specifics of a car insurance policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find typical coverage types available from car insurance companies.
Auto collision coverage
Collision insurance covers damage to your Astra caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as backing into a parked car, sustaining damage from a pot hole and sideswiping another vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible on your Astra to bring the cost down.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
This gives you protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Saturn Astra.
Due to the fact that many California drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Insurance for medical payments
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for short-term medical expenses like hospital visits, ambulance fees, rehabilitation expenses, EMT expenses and doctor visits. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover all vehicle occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as falling objects, theft, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and rock chips in glass. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Auto liability
Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 15/30/5 which stand for $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property. Another option is a combined limit which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for claims like legal defense fees, loss of income, bail bonds and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but buy higher limits if possible. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
The chart below shows why buying low liability limits may not be enough coverage.
Cheaper car insurance is a realistic goal
In this article, we presented a lot of ways to reduce Saturn Astra insurance auto insurance rates online in Chula Vista. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the best price on car insurance is with the least-expected company. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give better rates as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or GEICO.
The cheapest Saturn Astra insurance in Chula Vista is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Chula Vista agents, so you need to quote Chula Vista auto insurance with both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer online quoting and many times these regional insurance providers sell through local independent agents.
As you shop your coverage around, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.
How to save on Saturn Astra insurance in Chula Vista
To save the most money, the best way to get affordable car insurance rates is to start doing an annual price comparison from providers in Chula Vista.
Step 1: It will benefit you to learn about individual coverages and the changes you can make to drop your rates. Many things that result in higher prices such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and a less-than-favorable credit history can be remedied by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
Step 2: Request price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can provide price quotes from many different companies. Find a Chula Vista insurance agent
Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the premium of your current policy and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you can save money, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
Step 4: Tell your current agent or company of your decision to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit a signed application and payment for the new coverage. As soon as you can, keep your new proof of insurance certificate along with your vehicle registration.
A valuable tip to remember is that you’ll want to compare identical limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to analyze as many car insurance companies as possible. This helps ensure a level playing field and a good representation of prices.
More information can be read on the following sites:
- What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Chula Vista Auto Insurance Rates for 19 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for 17 Year Olds in Chula Vista? (FAQ)
- How Much are Chula Vista Car Insurance Rates for State Employees? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Hybrid Vehicles in Chula Vista? (FAQ)
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)