Are you trying to find more affordable car insurance rates in Encinitas, CA? Trying to find low-cost insurance for a car in California could be a painful process, but you can learn a few tricks and make it easy.
There are more efficient ways to compare car insurance rates and you need to know the proper way to compare rates for a new or used and obtain the cheapest rates from both online companies and Encinitas agents.
It’s a good idea to compare premium rates periodically because car insurance prices trend upward over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rate on car insurance at your last renewal there is a good chance you can find better premium rates now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding car insurance on the web, but in this article, you’re going to get a bunch of ideas how to quit paying high car insurance rates in Encinitas.
Auto insurance companies offering competitive price quotes in California
The providers in the list below have been selected to offer free rate quotes in California. If multiple companies are listed, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies to find the lowest auto insurance rates.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Policy Premium | 6-month Policy Premium | Monthly Premium | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet Impala LS | $1,500 | $750 | $125 | ||||
Chevrolet Malibu LTZ | $1,450 | $725 | $121 | ||||
Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Extended Cab 2WD | $1,344 | $672 | $112 | ||||
Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $1,296 | $648 | $108 | ||||
Dodge Ram Crew Cab SLT 2WD | $1,266 | $633 | $106 | ||||
Ford Edge SE 2WD | $1,088 | $544 | $91 | ||||
Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $992 | $496 | $83 | ||||
Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab 2WD | $1,260 | $630 | $105 | ||||
Ford Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $1,550 | $775 | $129 | ||||
Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,272 | $636 | $106 | ||||
Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $1,164 | $582 | $97 | ||||
Honda Civic VP 4-Dr Sedan | $1,974 | $987 | $165 | ||||
Honda Odyssey Touring | $1,252 | $626 | $104 | ||||
Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,302 | $651 | $109 | ||||
Kia Optima LX | $1,652 | $826 | $138 | ||||
Nissan Altima 2.5 S 2-Dr Coupe | $1,388 | $694 | $116 | ||||
Nissan Rogue SL 2WD | $1,598 | $799 | $133 | ||||
Toyota Camry SE | $1,256 | $628 | $105 | ||||
Toyota Corolla XRS | $1,406 | $703 | $117 | ||||
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Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, and homeowner. Rates do not factor in specific location which can influence auto insurance rates noticeably.
Policy deductible comparison
One of the most common car insurance questions is how low should you set your deductibles. The comparison tables below outline the price difference when you choose different coverage deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $100 deductible for comp and collision and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Kia Optima rates are for example purposes only. To get rates for your specific vehicle, click here.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Optima LX | $380 | $686 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,771 | $148 |
Optima EX | $430 | $810 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,945 | $162 |
Optima SX | $430 | $810 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,945 | $162 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Optima LX | $210 | $362 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,252 | $104 |
Optima EX | $238 | $426 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,344 | $112 |
Optima SX | $238 | $426 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,344 | $112 |
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Table data represents married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Table data does not factor in specific location information which can impact auto insurance rates considerably.
Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $100 deductible costs an average of $48 more each month or $576 a year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $900 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you average at least 19 months between claims, you would come out ahead by going with a higher deductible.
Calculation for raising deductibles
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $157 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $109 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $48 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $100): | $900 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $900 / $48 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 19 months |
One important note is that a higher deductible level means you pay more out-of-pocket when you have to file a claim. You should have enough disposable income in the event you have to pay more for the deductible.
Cautious drivers save money
The diagram below demonstrates how traffic citations and accidents drive up Dodge Ram auto insurance rates for different categories of driver ages. The rates are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
Dodge Ram rates are for example purposes only. To get rates for your specific vehicle, click here.
Insurance rates by gender in Encinitas
The diagram below shows the difference between annual premium costs for male and female drivers in Encinitas. The price estimates are based on no claims, a clean driving record, full coverage, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no other discounts are factored in on a GMC Acadia SL.
GMC Acadia rates are for example purposes only. To get rate quotes for your specific vehicle, click here.
Get cheap costs by understanding these factors
Lots of things are used in the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious such as traffic violations, but others are more transparent like your continuous coverage or how safe your car is.
Listed below are a few of the things auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.
Drivers with good credit save – A driver’s credit rating is likely to be a major factor in determining what you pay. If your credit history is not that good, you could pay less to insure your vehicle if you clean up your credit. People that have high credit scores tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims than drivers with lower credit ratings.
Higher coverage deductibles are cheaper – Comp and collision deductibles state the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket if a claim is determined to be covered. Physical damage coverage, aka comp and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are collision with another vehicle, hail damage, and damage from wind. The larger the amount you have to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
Stay claim-free and lower rates – If you frequently file small claims, you shouldn’t be surprised to get either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance companies in California give better rates to insureds that do not abuse their auto insurance. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Your employer and auto insurance rates – Did you know your career choice can influence rates? Occupations like lawyers, executives and accountants tend to have higher average rates due to intense work situations and lots of time spent at work. Other occupations like scientists, students and retirees pay lower than average rates.
More traffic means higher claims – Being located in a small town is a good thing when shopping for auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities have more road rage incidents and higher rates of accident claims. Fewer drivers on the road translates into fewer accident claims and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Affordable Encinitas auto insurance rates with discounts
Car insurance is not cheap, but you may find discounts that you may not even know about. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically when you quote, but once in a while a discount must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount.
- College Student – College-age children who attend college more than 100 miles from Encinitas and leave their car at home could get you a discount.
- Drivers Education – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers participate in a local driver’s education class in school.
- Discount for Passive Restraints – Options like air bags may qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
- Policy Bundle Discount – If you can bundle your auto and homeowners insurance with the same company you could earn a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off the PIP or medical payment premium.
- Clubs and Organizations – Joining a qualifying organization is a simple method to lower premiums on your bill.
- Early Signing – A few insurance companies give discounts for renewing your policy before your current policy expires. You could save around 10% when you buy Encinitas car insurance online.
- Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military could trigger a small discount.
- No Accidents – Encinitas drivers who stay claim-free pay less as compared to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Include Life Insurance and Save – Not all auto insurance companies offer life insurance, but some may give you better auto insurance rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
A little disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. If you do the math and it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky.
Popular auto insurance companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts are detailed below.
- American Family may offer discounts for good student, multi-vehicle, good driver, accident-free, air bags, and mySafetyValet.
- Nationwide offers discounts for family plan, business or organization, accident-free, multi-policy, defensive driving, anti-theft, and easy pay.
- MetLife includes discounts for good driver, accident-free, defensive driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and good student.
- 21st Century offers discounts including air bags, homeowners, good student, anti-lock brakes, and early bird.
- Farmers Insurance may have discounts that include alternative fuel, youthful driver, teen driver, mature driver, and switch companies.
- Allstate discounts include senior citizen, FullPay discount, farm vehicle, utility vehicle, passive restraint, defensive driver, and safe driver.
If you want low cost Encinitas car insurance quotes, ask every company to apply every possible discount. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered on policies in your area. To view providers who offer free auto insurance quotes in Encinitas, click this link.
Do I need an insurance agency?
A lot of people still prefer to talk to an insurance agent. Professional insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about comparing insurance online is you may find lower rates and still choose a local agent. Putting coverage with local insurance agents is important especially in Encinitas.
By using this simple form, your information is emailed to participating agents in Encinitas who will give competitive quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t need to search for any insurance agencies because quoted prices will be sent instantly to you. If you want to get a comparison quote for a specific company, don’t hesitate to jump over to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.
Selecting an insurance company should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Here are some questions you might want to ask.
- How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
- What company do they have the most business with?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
How to know if you need help
When it comes to the best insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really isn’t a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s needs are different and your insurance should be unique as well.
Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
- What does PIP insurance cover?
- Does my policy cover me if I wreck while driving under the influence?
- Are combined or split liability limits better?
- Does every company file a SR-22 automatically?
- Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.
Insurance claim statistics
Which vehicles statistically have the most claims? The statistics below show the best and worst cars and trucks for the probability of having to file claims for each type of coverage.
Lowest Claim Amount | Highest Claim Amount |
---|---|
Chevrolet Corvette | Chevrolet Cruze |
Audi A6 | Chevrolet Sonic |
Subaru Outback | Mitsubishi Lancer |
Subaru Forester | Dodge Charger |
Mercedes-Benz SL Class | Kia Optima |
Fiat 500 | Hyndai Accent |
Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Lowest Claim Amount | Highest Claim Amount |
---|---|
Land Rover Range Rover Sport | Kia Forte |
Chevrolet Corvette | Dodge Charger |
Chevrolet Silverado 3500 | Mitsubishi Lancer |
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 | Chevrolet Spark |
Ford F-350 SuperCrew | Hyundai Accent |
Ford F-250 SuperCrew | Nissan Versa |
Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Lowest Claim Amount | Highest Claim Amount |
---|---|
Mini Cooper | BMW 6 Series |
Nissan Xterra | Bentley Continental Flying Spur |
Smart ForTwo | Maserati Granturismo |
Chevrolet Colorado | Bently Continental GT |
GMC Canyon | BMW M6 |
Ford F-250 SuperCab | Nissan GT-R |
Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Lowest Claim Amount | Highest Claim Amount |
---|---|
Chevy Silverado 2500 | BMW M6 |
Nissan Leaf | Maserati Granturismo |
Nissan Xterra | Porsche Panamera GTS |
Smart ForTwo | Audi S7 |
Infiniti QX50 | Bentley Continental GT |
Chevy Spark | Bentley Continental GTC |
Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
More comparisons equals cheaper rates
You just read some good ideas how to find cheaper coverage online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the higher the chance of saving money. Drivers may even discover the lowest priced insurance comes from a lesser-known regional company. They often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that they should have had better coverage. The goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best possible price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
To read more, take a look at the following helpful articles:
- Auto Insurance Basics (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for a Company Car in San Diego? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for a Dodge Grand Caravan in San Diego? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap San Diego Car Insurance Rates for 16 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Electric Cars in San Diego? (FAQ)
- Higher speed limits cause more fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)