Want a free price quotes on cheaper insurance rates in San Diego, CA? San Diego drivers have options when trying to find the best price on Kia Optima Hybrid insurance. You can either waste hours struggling with agents trying to get quotes or leverage the internet to get rate quotes.
There is a right way and a wrong way to compare insurance rates and you need to know the best way to get price quotes for a Kia and get the cheapest rates.
The easiest way to compare insurance rates from multiple companies is to realize most of the larger companies participate in online systems to give rate comparisons. The one thing you need to do is give them some information such as how old drivers are, if you lease or own, if it has an anti-theft system, and how much coverage you want. The rating information is then sent to all major companies and you will receive price estimates very quickly.
To check rates for your car now, click here then complete the form.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide price quotes in San Diego, CA. If multiple providers are shown, we suggest you visit two to three different companies in order to find the most competitive rates.
Auto insurance just makes sense
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Kia Optima Hybrid in San Diego, buying auto insurance is required by state law in California and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.
- Almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific minimum amounts of liability coverage in order to be legal. 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 you have a loan on your Optima Hybrid, it’s most likely the lender will have a requirement that you have comprehensive coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank may buy a policy for your Kia for a lot more money and force you to pay much more than you were paying before.
- Insurance protects both your assets and your vehicle. It also can pay for medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also covers legal expenses if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, your auto insurance policy will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of insuring your Optima Hybrid definitely exceed the price paid, especially for larger claims. But the average American driver is currently overpaying as much as $825 a year so you should quote and compare rates at every policy renewal to save money.
Get cheaper Kia Optima Hybrid insurance in San Diego with discounts
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you might be missing out on some discounts that many consumers don’t even know exist. Some discounts apply automatically when you quote, but less common discounts must be asked about before you get the savings.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts could see savings as much as 30%.
- Student in College – Kids who live away from home to go to college and don’t have a car can receive lower rates.
- E-sign Discounts – Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application on their website.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for all your vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
- Driver’s Education for Students – Have your child enroll and complete driver’s education as it can save substantially.
- One Accident Forgiven – Not necessarily a discount, but companies like Progressive, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual may permit one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a set time period.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Vehicles that have anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents so you can save 10 percent or more.
- Own a Home – Being a homeowner can save a few bucks due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.
Remember that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.
Some companies who might offer these benefits include:
It’s a good idea to ask every company what discounts are available to you. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be offered in every state. To choose insurance companies that have a full spectrum of discounts in San Diego, click this link.
Independent versus exclusive insurance agencies
A lot of people just prefer to go talk to an agent and that is OK! Agents can point out coverage gaps and help you file claims. One of the benefits of comparing auto insurance online is you may find lower premium rates and still have a local agent. Buying from and supporting neighborhood agents is especially important in San Diego.
By using this short form, your coverage information is emailed to companies in San Diego who will give you bids for your business. You never need to contact any insurance agencies because quoted prices will be sent to you. If for some reason you want to compare prices from a specific insurance company, you just need to find their quoting web page and give them your coverage information.
When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, it helps to know the two types of insurance agents to choose from. Agencies in San Diego are considered either independent agents or exclusive agents. Both can handle auto insurance, but it’s worth learning the difference between them because it may have an impact on the selection process.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agencies are normally appointed by many insurers so they can insure your vehicles with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If they quote lower rates, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency. If you need lower rates, you definitely need to contact at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from. A lot of them also have access to smaller companies which may provide better rates.
Featured below is a small list of independent agents in San Diego who may provide free price quotes.
- Springbrook Insurance Agency
10650 Treena St #105 – San Diego, CA 92131 – (858) 391-3001 ext. 105 – View Map - San Diego Insurance
4411 Mercury St #105b – San Diego, CA 92111 – (858) 565-6695 – View Map - Anchor General Insurance Agency-Texas
10256 Meanley Dr – San Diego, CA 92131 – (858) 527-3600 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Exclusive agencies can only write with one company like AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. These agents are not able to provide rate quotes from other companies so always compare other rates. Exclusive agencies are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which aids in selling service over price. Consumers often buy from the same agent for years mainly due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
Shown below are exclusive insurance agencies in San Diego who can help you get rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance: Patrick Wang
8650 Genesee Ave Ste 108 – San Diego, CA 92122 – (858) 623-3344 – View Map - Deryk Inn – State Farm Insurance Agent
3633 Camino del Rio S #100 – San Diego, CA 92108 – (619) 362-4820 – View Map - Fred Shadlow – State Farm Insurance Agent
7332 Casper Dr – San Diego, CA 92119 – (619) 464-4261 – View Map
Finding the right auto insurance agent requires more thought than just the premium amount. Any agent in San Diego should be forthright in answering these questions:
- How would your car be valued if totalled?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Are they involved in claim handling?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
Everyone needs different auto insurance coverages
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different.
For example, these questions might help in determining if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.
- Are rental cars covered under my policy?
- Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
- Will my Kia Optima Hybrid be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Am I covered while delivering pizza?
- Should I rate my vehicle as business use?
- Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?
- Should I have a commercial auto policy?
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.
Insurance specifics
Understanding the coverages of a insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Auto liability insurance
Liability insurance provides protection from damage that occurs to other’s property or people by causing an accident. It protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 15/30/5 that translate to $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $30,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability insurance covers things such as structural damage, emergency aid, medical expenses, funeral expenses and court costs. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but consider buying as much as you can afford. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.
Collision coverage
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage pays for things like backing into a parked car, colliding with another moving vehicle, damaging your car on a curb, rolling your car and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible on your Optima Hybrid to save money on collision insurance.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses for things like rehabilitation expenses, surgery, ambulance fees and EMT expenses. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
This provides protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Kia Optima Hybrid.
Since many California drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/5), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea. Frequently these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Comprehensive auto coverage
This coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, hitting a bird and vandalism. The most a insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Frequent quotes can save
When shopping online for insurance, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, questionable increases in premium, lack of trust in their agent or poor customer service. No matter why you want to switch, switching insurance companies is less work than it seems.
Throughout this article, we presented a lot of information how to compare Kia Optima Hybrid insurance rates in San Diego. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get car insurance rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from a small local company.
Additional insurance information is located on the following sites:
- Young Drivers: The High Risk Years Video (iihs.org)
- Who Has Cheap San Diego Car Insurance Rates for Nurses? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record in San Diego? (FAQ)
- Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
- Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)