If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to get low-cost auto insurance rates is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from companies in Chula Vista.
Step 1: It will benefit you to learn about how companies price auto insurance and the changes you can make to prevent high rates. Many risk factors that result in higher rates like at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and an unacceptable credit rating can be amended by making lifestyle changes or driving safer. Later in this article we will cover information to lower rates and find additional discounts.
Step 2: Compare price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give rate quotes from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
Step 3: Compare the new rates to your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available in Chula Vista. If you find a lower rate quote and switch companies, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
The most important part of shopping around is that you use the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each quote and to quote with every insurance company. This guarantees a fair price comparison and the best price selection.
A recent study showed that the vast majority of California car insurance customers kept their coverage with the same car insurance company for a minimum of four years, and roughly 40% of drivers have never even compared quotes to find affordable rates. With the average premium in America being $1,847, drivers could save up to 46.5% every year just by shopping around, but most just don’t grasp the amount of money they would save if they bought a different policy.
Quoting and comparing rates for the lowest-priced policy in Chula Vista is not as difficult as people think. If you have coverage now or are shopping for new coverage, you can use these tips to cut your premiums without sacrificing coverage. Smart shoppers just have to learn the proper methods to compare different rates from many different companies online.
The companies shown below provide free rate quotes in Chula Vista, CA. If you want to find cheap auto insurance in Chula Vista, CA, we recommend you click on several of them to find the most affordable car insurance rates.
Volkswagen Routan insurance analysis
The premium table below outlines different prices for Volkswagen Routan models. Learning more about how rates are figured helps drivers make smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Routan S 2WD | $238 | $392 | $424 | $26 | $128 | $1,208 | $101 |
Routan SE 2WD | $270 | $478 | $424 | $26 | $128 | $1,326 | $111 |
Routan SEL 2WD | $270 | $564 | $424 | $26 | $128 | $1,412 | $118 |
Routan SEL Premium 6 Cyl 2WD | $300 | $564 | $424 | $26 | $128 | $1,442 | $120 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data represents single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Premium amounts do not factor in garaging location in Chula Vista which can alter coverage prices significantly.
Policy deductibles
One of the more difficult decisions when buying car insurance is how low should you set your deductibles. The comparisons below may help to conceptualize the cost difference when you choose different physical damage deductibles. The first rate table uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second set of rates uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Routan S 2WD | $342 | $472 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,349 | $112 |
Routan SE 2WD | $386 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,497 | $125 |
Routan SEL 2WD | $386 | $678 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,599 | $133 |
Routan SEL Premium 6 Cyl 2WD | $430 | $678 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,643 | $137 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Routan S 2WD | $278 | $382 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,170 | $98 |
Routan SE 2WD | $314 | $464 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,288 | $107 |
Routan SEL 2WD | $314 | $546 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,370 | $114 |
Routan SEL Premium 6 Cyl 2WD | $348 | $546 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,404 | $117 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in specific location information which can decrease or increase coverage prices noticeably.
Based on the figures above, using a $250 deductible costs approximately $18 more each month or $216 for a full year than choosing the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $250 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you go more than 14 months between claim filings, you would probably save some money if you opt for a higher deductible.
How to calculate deductible break even period
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $127 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $109 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $18 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $18 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 14 months |
An important thing to remember is that higher deductibles results in having to pay to pay more out-of-pocket when you do file a claim. That will require some available funds in order to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.
Safe drivers Chula Vista pay cheaper rates
The example below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault collisions can increase Volkswagen Routan auto insurance rates for different age groups. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Gender-based car insurance rates by age
The diagram below illustrates the difference between Volkswagen Routan premium costs for male and female drivers. The prices are based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no policy discounts are applied.
Cost comparison with and without full coverage
The illustration below shows the difference between Volkswagen Routan premium costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The premiums assume no violations or claims, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.
When to eliminate full coverage
There is no written rule of when to exclude full coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than about 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let’s say your Volkswagen Routan settlement value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company would pay you is $2,000 after paying your policy deductible. If you are paying over $200 a year for physical damage coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not recommended. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to keep full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage in place.
These six discounts can lower your auto insurance quotes
Auto insurance is expensive, but there could be significant discounts to help bring down the price. A few discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be asked for in order for you to get them.
- Payment Discounts – If you can afford to pay the entire bill instead of paying each month you may have a lower total premium amount.
- Safety Restraint Discount – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts could cut 10% or more off the medical payments premium.
- No Claims – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims have much lower rates when compared with bad drivers.
- Smart Student Discounts – Performing well in school could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Most companies allow this discount well after school through age 25.
- Auto/Life Discount – Larger insurance companies have a small discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
- Student in College – College-age children who attend college more than 100 miles from Chula Vista and do not take a car to college may be insured at a cheaper rate.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Even though the math looks like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.
The diagram below visualizes the comparison of Volkswagen Routan auto insurance costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The information is based on a female driver, no claims, a clean driving record, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-car, marriage, homeowner, and claim-free discounts applied.
Popular auto insurance companies and their offered discounts can be read below.
- GEICO may include discounts for daytime running lights, good student, five-year accident-free, federal employee, and anti-lock brakes.
- Travelers offers discounts for payment discounts, home ownership, multi-policy, save driver, continuous insurance, and early quote.
- Nationwide offers discounts including defensive driving, accident-free, easy pay, good student, multi-policy, and Farm Bureau membership.
- Farmers Insurance policyholders can earn discounts including early shopping, good student, switch companies, teen driver, distant student, electronic funds transfer, and business and professional.
- Esurance may have discounts that include defensive driver, anti-lock brakes, multi-policy, renters, multi-car, anti-theft, and DriveSense.
- State Farm has discounts for driver’s education, student away at school, safe vehicle, Drive Safe & Save, multiple autos, and good driver.
- Progressive offers premium reductions for good student, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, online signing, and homeowner.
- Mercury Insurance has savings for annual mileage, ease of repair, location of vehicle, type of vehicle, professional/association, and multi-car.
Before purchasing a policy, check with each insurance company what discounts are available to you. Discounts may not apply in your state. To see a list of insurers that offer multiple discounts in Chula Vista, click this link.
Why insurance is not optional
Despite the fact that insurance is not cheap in Chula Vista, insuring your vehicle is required in California but it also protects you in many ways.
- Just about all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to buy a specific level of liability protection in order to drive the car legally. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your Routan has a loan, it’s guaranteed your bank will have a requirement that you have insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank may insure your Volkswagen at a more expensive rate and require you to pay for the expensive policy.
- Insurance protects not only your Volkswagen but also your assets. Insurance will also pay for medical bills for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, will also pay attorney fees if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your Volkswagen gets damaged, your insurance policy will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of insuring your Routan definitely exceed the price paid, particularly when you have a large claim. On average, a vehicle owner in Chula Vista overpays as much as $825 a year so compare rate quotes at least once a year to make sure the price is not too high.
How to know if you need help
When quoting and comparing insurance from an agent or online for your personal vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Your needs are unique to you so this has to be addressed.
For instance, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Should I rate my Volkswagen Routan as pleasure use or commute?
- Does coverage follow the driver or the vehicle?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- When should I not buy collision coverage?
- Will my Volkswagen Routan be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
- Does coverage extend to my business vehicle?
- Should I buy additional glass protection?
If you’re not sure about 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’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Do I need an insurance agency?
Some people would prefer to talk to an insurance agent and doing that can be a smart decision Professional agents are highly skilled in risk management and help you file claims. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find cheap rate quotes and still have an agent to talk to. Putting coverage with local agencies is especially important in Chula Vista.
Upon completion of this quick form, the coverage information is immediately sent to local insurance agents who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to contact an agency because quoted prices will be sent instantly to you. If you have a need to get a comparison quote for a specific company, you just need to navigate to their website and submit a quote form there.
If you are wanting to find an insurance agent, it’s important to understand the different types of agents that you can select. Insurance agencies can be categorized as either exclusive or independent. Either type can sell affordable insurance policies, but it’s worth mentioning why they differ since it can impact buying decisions.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents often have many company appointments so they have the ability to put coverage with a variety of different insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If premiums increase, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part. If you need lower rates, you definitely need to include price quotes from multiple independent agents to maximize your price options. They also have the ability to place coverage with different regional companies that many times have cheaper rates.
Shown below are independent agencies in Chula Vista that can possibly get you free insurance rate quotes.
- Garrison Insurance Agency, Inc
553 Telegraph Canyon Rd – Chula Vista, CA 91910 – (800) 701-5909 – View Map - California Brokerage Insurance
355 K St – Chula Vista, CA 91911 – (619) 420-8888 – View Map - Daylight Insurance Brokerage
900 Lane Ave #128 – Chula Vista, CA 91914 – (619) 240-7164 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
These type of agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. Exclusive agents are well schooled in insurance sales and that enables them to sell even at higher rates. Some insured continue to choose to use an exclusive agent mainly due to loyalty to the company rather than low rates.
Shown below are exclusive insurance agencies in Chula Vista that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Farmers Insurance – Patricia Ruiz
2568 Waterline Way – Chula Vista, CA 91914 – (619) 482-7011 – View Map - Farmers Insurance: Julie Garcia
2060 Otay Lakes Rd Ste 240 – Chula Vista, CA 91915 – (619) 401-1104 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: Donald Sewell
355 3rd Ave B – Chula Vista, CA 91910 – (619) 425-5370 – View Map
Finding the right insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price quote. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Which company do they place the most coverage with?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
- In the event of vehicle damage, can you pick the collision repair facility?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in California?
Auto insurance coverages and their meanings
Learning about specific coverages of a auto insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are the normal coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.
Auto liability
Liability coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property that is your fault. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see policy limits of 15/30/5 which stand for $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $30,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $5,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for things like attorney fees, legal defense fees, court costs, structural damage and bail bonds. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
The next chart demonstrates why the minimum limit may not provide you with enough coverage.
Collision insurance
Collision insurance covers damage to your Routan from colliding with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for things such as hitting a parking meter, driving through your garage door, rolling your car, scraping a guard rail and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible on your Routan to get cheaper collision coverage.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Volkswagen Routan.
Since many California drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (California limits are 15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Medical expense insurance
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for expenses for surgery, nursing services and rehabilitation expenses. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like vandalism, hail damage and hitting a bird. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.