Searching for better insurance prices for a Suzuki SX4 in California can be a painful process, but you can follow a few tricks to make it easier. There is a right way and a wrong way to shop for auto insurance so we’re going to tell you the absolute fastest way to get price quotes for a new or used Suzuki and obtain the lowest price.
Sad but true, most California auto insurance customers have been with the same company for a minimum of four years, and approximately 40% of consumers have never compared rates with other companies. Most drivers in the U.S. could save themselves $850 a year, but they assume it’s a waste of time to save money by comparing rate quotes.
It’s a good idea to compare prices quite often because auto insurance prices trend upward over time. Just because you found the best rates on Suzuki SX4 insurance in San Diego at your last renewal you may be paying too much now. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you how to use online quotes to find better rates and still maintain coverage.
These ten discounts can lower your insurance quotes
Car insurance companies don’t always publicize all possible discounts very well, so we took the time to find both the well known and also the more inconspicuous credits available to lower your premiums when you buy San Diego auto insurance online. If you are not receiving all the discounts possible, you are throwing money away.
- No Accidents – San Diego drivers who stay claim-free can save substantially as opposed to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Student Driver Training – Have your child participate in a local driver’s education class in school or through a local driver safety program.
- Air Bag Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts may qualify for discounts as much as 30%.
- Data Collection Discounts – San Diego drivers who agree to allow companies to analyze driving patterns by using a telematic data system like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot could possibly reduce rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Defensive Driver Discount – Taking a defensive driver course can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Anti-theft Discount – Cars and trucks equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Professional Memberships – Participating in qualifying clubs or civic groups is a good way to get lower rates when getting a San Diego auto insurance quote.
- Senior Citizen Rates – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for a small discount on rates.
- Student Discounts – Maintaining excellent grades may save you up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
- Active Military Service – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premium rates.
A quick disclaimer, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Despite the fact that it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, nobody gets a free ride.
A few of the larger companies and the discounts they provide can be read below.
- American Family may offer discounts for mySafetyValet, air bags, multi-vehicle, good student, Steer into Savings, and TimeAway discount.
- State Farm offers discounts for defensive driving training, Steer Clear safe driver discount, passive restraint, anti-theft, good student, multiple autos, and driver’s education.
- 21st Century offers discounts including 55 and older, air bags, automatic seat belts, good student, anti-lock brakes, and homeowners.
- Travelers offers premium reductions for good student, multi-car, IntelliDrive, early quote, hybrid/electric vehicle, new car, and driver training.
- GEICO may have discounts that include anti-lock brakes, good student, air bags, anti-theft, federal employee, and multi-policy.
Double check with every prospective company what discounts are available to you. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not be offered in your area. To find providers with discount rates in California, click here to view.
The quickest way to compare car insurance company rates for Suzuki SX4 insurance in San Diego is to know all the major auto insurance companies participate in a system to give rate comparisons. The only thing you need to do is spend a couple of minutes providing details including how your vehicles are used, whether you are married, whether or not you need a SR-22, and the type of vehicles you drive. That rating information is instantly submitted to many different companies and you get price estimates almost instantly.
To find lower cheaper Suzuki SX4 insurance rates now, click here and complete the form.
The car insurance companies shown below are ready to provide free rate quotes in San Diego, CA. If more than one company is shown, we suggest you visit as many as you can to get a more complete price comparison.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SX4 LE | $158 | $354 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,192 | $99 |
SX4 2WD | $294 | $464 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,438 | $120 |
SX4 Sport S | $390 | $678 | $578 | $34 | $174 | $1,854 | $155 |
SX4 Sport SE | $270 | $536 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,416 | $118 |
SX4 Technology 2WD | $238 | $478 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,396 | $116 |
SX4 Sportback 2WD | $182 | $372 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,234 | $103 |
SX4 AWD AWD | $164 | $308 | $424 | $26 | $126 | $1,048 | $87 |
SX4 Sport GTS | $380 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,790 | $149 |
SX4 Technology AWD | $296 | $478 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,338 | $112 |
SX4 Touring AWD | $270 | $454 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,404 | $117 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Information does not factor in San Diego location which can modify coverage prices substantially.
Suzuki SX4 insurance rates: Men versus women
The example below shows the difference between Suzuki SX4 auto insurance costs for male and female drivers. The information is based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
Where to set your deductibles
One common question asked by San Diego drivers is what deductibles to buy. The comparisons below illustrate the rate difference between high and low deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SX4 LE | $332 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,643 | $137 |
SX4 2WD | $380 | $564 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,569 | $131 |
SX4 Sport S | $380 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,815 | $151 |
SX4 Sport SE | $380 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,815 | $151 |
SX4 Technology 2WD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
SX4 Sportback 2WD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
SX4 AWD AWD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
SX4 Sport GTS | $380 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,815 | $151 |
SX4 Technology AWD | $430 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,741 | $145 |
SX4 Touring AWD | $430 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,741 | $145 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SX4 LE | $242 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,306 | $109 |
SX4 2WD | $278 | $382 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,260 | $105 |
SX4 Sport S | $278 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,424 | $119 |
SX4 Sport SE | $278 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,424 | $119 |
SX4 Technology 2WD | $278 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,342 | $112 |
SX4 Sportback 2WD | $278 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,342 | $112 |
SX4 AWD AWD | $278 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,342 | $112 |
SX4 Sport GTS | $278 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,424 | $119 |
SX4 Technology AWD | $314 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,378 | $115 |
SX4 Touring AWD | $314 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,378 | $115 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in specific San Diego garaging location which can influence auto insurance rates significantly.
Based on this data, using a $100 deductible costs approximately $29 more each month or $348 every year than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $400 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have at a minimum 14 months between claim filings, you would save money going with the higher deductible.
How to calculate if higher deductibles make sense
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $143 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $114 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $29 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $29 |
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 raising deductibles to get cheaper rates means you pay more out-of-pocket when you have a comprehensive or collision claim. You will want to have some money saved in order to pay the deductible.
Insurance is available from local insurance agents
Many people prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases Professional agents can help determine the best coverages and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you can get cheap rate quotes and still choose a local agent.
By using this simple form, your insurance data is submitted to companies in San Diego that can provide free San Diego auto insurance quotes to get your business. You never need to contact an agency since rate quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. If you have a need to get a comparison quote from a specific insurance provider, you just need to visit that company’s website and fill out their quote form.
Picking the best insurance company requires you to look at more than just a cheap price. Any agent in San Diego should be forthright in answering these questions:
- How long has the business existed?
- Is the agency active in community causes in San Diego?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Do they offer rental car reimbursement?
- Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
- Are they giving you every discount you deserve?
Independent or Exclusive: It’s your choice
If you are searching for a local agent, it can be helpful to understand the types of agencies that you can choose from. Insurance policy providers can be classified as either independent agents or exclusive agents. Either type can sell affordable insurance policies, but it’s important to point out the difference between them since it can affect which agent you choose.
Exclusive Agents
Exclusive insurance agents have only one company to place business with and examples are State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. Exclusive agents cannot shop your coverage around so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive agencies receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products which helps offset the inability to provide other markets. Consumers often purchase coverage from exclusives mostly because of the brand rather than having the cheapest rates.
Listed below are San Diego exclusive agencies who can help you get price quote information.
- Rick Wiese – State Farm Insurance Agent
2333 Camino del Rio S – San Diego, CA 92108 – (619) 293-7211 – View Map - Val Myers – State Farm Insurance Agent
12925 El Camino Real, Ste J26 – San Diego, CA 92130 – (858) 481-0401 – View Map - Mike Foley – State Farm Insurance Agent
5210 Balboa Ave, Ste A1 – San Diego, CA 92117 – (858) 277-1400 – View Map
Independent Agents
Independent agents do not have single company limitations so they can insure your vehicles through many different insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If your premiums go up, your agent can switch companies which makes it simple for you.
If you need lower rates, you absolutely need to include a couple of independent agencies to get the best comparison. Most have the option of insuring with companies that do not advertise much which can save you money.
Listed below are San Diego independent agents who can help you get price quotes.
- San Diego Insurance
4411 Mercury St #105b – San Diego, CA 92111 – (858) 565-6695 – View Map - ARROWHEAD General Insurance Agency, Inc.
701 B St #2100 – San Diego, CA 92101 – (619) 744-5000 – View Map - Rubin Insurance
6363 Greenwich Dr #120 – San Diego, CA 92122 – (858) 457-5720 – View Map
Three reasons car insurance is important
Even though San Diego SX4 insurance rates can get expensive, car insurance serves a purpose in several ways.
- Most states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires a minimum amount of liability if you want to drive 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 you have a lien on your vehicle, most lenders will have a requirement that you buy insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the lender will be forced to insure your Suzuki at a much higher rate and force you to pay for it.
- Car insurance protects both your assets and your Suzuki SX4. It will also cover medical transport and hospital expenses that are the result of an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are sued as the result of your driving. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, your car insurance policy will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of having insurance greatly outweigh the cost, especially if you ever need it. Today the average American driver is overpaying more than $800 each year so compare quotes from several companies each time the policy renews to be sure current rates are still competitive.
The coverage is in the details
Understanding the coverages of your policy can help you determine the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Medical payments and PIP coverage – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for immediate expenses for EMT expenses, nursing services, chiropractic care, funeral costs and X-ray expenses. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Auto liability insurance – Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people by causing an accident. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 15/30/5 that translate to a limit of $15,000 per injured person, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000.
Liability can pay for claims such as funeral expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, loss of income, pain and suffering and medical services. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – This gives you protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Suzuki SX4.
Due to the fact that many California drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 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.
Comprehensive auto coverage – Comprehensive insurance covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like vandalism, hitting a deer, theft and hail damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Collision – Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your SX4 resulting from a collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for claims like colliding with a tree, sustaining damage from a pot hole and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible on your SX4 to bring the cost down.
One last thing about your coverage
Drivers leave their current company for many reasons like high rates after DUI convictions, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium and even extreme rates for teen drivers. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.
As you quote San Diego auto insurance, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many instances, an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost.
In this article, we covered some good ideas how to lower your Suzuki SX4 insurance rates in San Diego. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get auto insurance rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable Suzuki SX4 insurance quotes. You may even discover the most savings is with an unexpected company.
Additional information
- Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest in San Diego, California? (FAQ)
- How Much are San Diego Auto Insurance Rates for Good Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Toyota Corolla in San Diego? (FAQ)
- Collision Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)