Some Ways of Getting Cheap Car Insurance in California

Author: Alien

As drivers below the age of 25 are considered to be the high risk drivers, they do not get low cost car insurance rates in California. Thus, the younger the driver is the difficult for him to get low cost California car insurance. But a few important factors can help you a lot in getting low cost auto insurance. These may include the following:



1. If you change your status to married, you can easily get insurance at cheap prices.
2. If you are able to increase your deductibles, it will help you in achieving low premium rates. However, deductibles should be increased up to the limit that you can easily afford.

3. Certain insurance companies used to provide driving classes to people in order to improve your driving capability. These are also termed as defensive driving. By joining those from the company that you are concerned with, it will provide you with the lower premium rates.

4. In California, preference is given to the car that has driving safety features. Try to buy the car that is having all such features in it. It will help you in getting low cost auto insurance from the company.

5. If you are making good grades according to the insurance company, you will be rewarded by them. Good grades include A’s and B’s.

6. One more way of achieving low cost auto insurance policy you have to live with your parents and make register your insurance policy with their name. It will serve you with the lower premium rates.

7. Also, if you visit insurance quotes from more than three insurance sites, you can get low cost insurance because the insurers that are not covered by one insurance site will be covered by another insurance site.

By following these points, one can get low cost insurance rates in California. Otherwise, it is quite difficult to get low cost insurance plans in California if you under the age of 25 years. And as it is against law of California to drive your car without having insurance, you have to buy it at higher rates. So it is advised to follow these factors and enjoy your driving by keeping yourself in the premises of law and order of the country. This will also provide you with a healthy and comfortable life as well because the fear of losses that are caused in case of a serious accident or injury is also removed.
About the Author:
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California Auto Insurance Laws

California law requires that drivers have evidence of auto insurance if they are driving their own car or someone else’s. People who own a vehicle but don’t drive it are still obligated to have auto insurance in California.

California’s Compulsory Financial Responsibility Law necessitates all drivers and owners of an automobile to be financially responsible for their actions. The statutory minimum limits of liability insurance in California are that the person responsible for an accident that results in the death or injury of one person is liable for $15,000, or $30,000 if there are multiple injuries in one accident. The responsible party is liable for $5,000 of property damage for any one accident.

There are four techniques to realize financial responsibility, including coverage by a motor vehicle or automobile liability insurance policy, a cash deposit of $35,000 with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a certificate of self-insurance issued by DMV to owners of fleets of more than 25 vehicles, or a surety bond for $35,000 obtained from an insurance company licensed to do business in California.



When a vehicle is in an accident for which the driver is established as a legally liable, bodily injury liability covers their liability to others for injuries to them, whereas property damage liability covers their liability for damage to someone else’s property.

All California drivers and owners need to have at least the statutory limits of minimum liability insurance or an approved substitute method to compensate for injury or property damage they may bring about. Penalties are extremely harsh for nonconformity with this segment of the vehicle code. Comprehensive coverage (other than collision), uninsured motorist, medical payments, and collision insurance are not required by law but can be a good investment.

California Auto Insurance provides detailed information about California auto insurance, California auto insurance companies, California auto insurance comparisons, and more. California Auto Insurance is affiliated with Cheap Sports Car Insurance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Morris

Ways to Keep Your Auto Insurance Rates Cheap


Trying to keep auto insurance rates cheap is a popular goal among most drivers. So popular, in fact, that it can be a topic bragged about or discussed at dinner parties or friendly get-togethers. Everyone wants to find a great policy from a quality company for a low price. It’s the gold pot found at the end of a rainbow so to speak, and some drivers are adamant about finding that gold.
Whether it’s a driver who desperately needs to save money on their premium or a driver who just wants bragging rights, OnlineAutoInsurance.com can help those drivers find ways to keep their rates low and as inexpensive as possible.




#1 Compare Prices Often
In order to make sure you are getting the lowest possible price, you’ll need to compare prices between different companies a few times a year. Companies occasionally increase all of their driver’s prices across the board because they are in need of more profits. While company may see fit to do this, another company may not. The end result is you finding out that you can change companies, especially to a company that is offering a lower price for the same coverage. This can only be found when the policyholder compares prices regularly. A great and easy way to effectively compare prices quickly is by using our quote comparison tool, which can be found at the top of our homepage in a box asking for a local zip code.
#2 Drive Safely and Infrequently
Safe drivers will always pay less for their insurance compared to high risk drivers or drivers who have a couple tickets and accidents on their record. Insurers know when they provide insurance for a good driver, there is little chance that the “good driver” will be filing a claim any time soon. The way an insurer makes a profit is by getting more money coming in (premiums) than what they are paying out (claims). They reward good drivers with lower rates. If you are a good driver and don’t get tickets and accidents, you’ll pay less for insurance.
Also, the more miles that are put on a vehicle every year is more evidence that it is on the road and the chances of it being involved in an accident increase. When an estimated yearly mileage is a low number, the insurer knows the driver has a decreased chance of being involved in an accident and therefore the insurer can afford to lower their premium. Many people have an option to take a bus to and from work or school or to run errands. Others can use a cab or carpool with friends, neighbors or co-workers. There are ways to get around constantly using a car, which can lower your premiums.
#3 Take Advantage of Discounts
Don’t ever be too prideful to take advantage of the discounts that are offered by an insurer. If you don’t qualify for discounts, figure out what changes can be made that will allow you to qualify for discounts. Even if you only save a few dollars with a few discounts, they do add up to savings. Each auto insurance company may differ in their qualifications, so ask them before assuming you do qualify.
To name a few discounts that are offered, the good driver discount, good student discount, defensive driving course, and senior citizen discount are a few that typically offered by most insurers. There are also discounts offered for children who are attending colleges farther than 100 miles away as well as loyalty and retirement discounts. A responsible driver has a very good chance of qualifying for at least one discount.
#4 Clean Up Your Credit Report
Some insurers use a driver’s credit score to help determine their rates. They feel there is a connection between the driver’s financial responsibility and their ability to take responsibility behind the wheel. Their statistics can show how drivers with lower credit scores are involved in filing more claims. To some drivers it is an unfair use, especially if they’ve struggled financially due to chronic illness or job loss. Credit score isn’t always something people connect to auto insurance, but in some cases it is. Do your best to increase your credit score and get the negative marks erased.
#5 Lower Your Coverage
An easy way to get cheap auto insurance rates is by lowering the coverage amounts or dropping certain coverage types altogether. Every driver must carry the state requirements, but past that drivers can carry as much or as little coverage as they desire. Of course, it’s the best and safest route to have as much coverage as possible to protect the policyholder’s assets. But some people simply can’t afford full coverage. Go through the different parts of coverage on the policy and decide whether or not they are truly needed.
#6 Look at Your Vehicle
The type of vehicle that is driven and insured drastically affects the insurance premium cost. Older cars are less expensive to fix than newer, luxury cars and therefore cost less to insure. Vehicles that have certain safety features are also less to insure than vehicles without safety features. Sports cars, especially the ones driven by young males, are very expensive to insure because statistically they are involved in many accidents and filed claims. Insurers try to protect their earnings by increasing the premiums on certain vehicles. Contact your insurer to find out what cars could cost you less.
Getting cheap rates may initially seem like an unrealistic dream or goal, but it can happen when drivers do their homework and shop around. Taking responsibility and avoiding tickets and accidents by driving safely and obeying traffic laws will always help drivers get the best rates possible, especially in the long run. The other big thing to remember is to constantly compare rates to see what the going price is for the coverage you want. It would be sad to realize how much you could have been saving if only the comparing process began months ago.

5 Things to Know About Auto Insurance - Video



Teen Auto Insurance - How to Get it Cheap


Are you wondering how to get teen auto insurance cheap? Don't worry, you are not alone, and many other people are often wondering how to get it as well. There are some key factors that come into play when you are trying to figure out how to get inexpensive car rates. One of these keys is to assess how much you are going to be driving. Obviously, someone who drives less is going to get a cheaper rate than someone who is going to be driving 20,000 miles per year.
So in order to get cheap teen auto insurance, you will need to cut down on your driving for sure. Keeping it around 5000 miles per year will get you a much lower rate. This is because these people are at a much lower risk to get into an accident than other people who are driving more miles.
You also need to do research to find out which company is going to offer you the lowest teen auto insurance rate. There are certain companies that will give you a better rate than others, you will just have to go around and talk to different ones.
Those two things will really be key to getting a cheap teen auto insurance quote; your mileage per year, and the company that you go with. Some people underestimate how much money you can save by simply reducing the amount of driving that you do. Also, it literally pays to shop around and find the right company as the right one is right around the corner.
Just do a little bit of preliminary research and find out which companies are giving good quotes, and go from there. Getting a cheap teen auto insurance quote is really easy, you just have to look around and follow these keys.
Learn More About How to SAVE on Auto Insurance

How to Find Cheap Affordable Auto Insurance


Finding cheap auto insurance is much easier today than it use to be,thanks to the internet. You just have to find a site that offers policies from many companies and then you can compare quotes. No longer do you have to physically shop from company to company.
First shop different companies and compare the premiums.See what coverage they offer you. Don't be afraid to get many quotes, in fact you should. Search online to get quotes because you need to copmare prices and make sure you are in fact getting a good deal on your insurance policy. Remember that it is important to compare those quotes and also the policy to make sure that you have enough insurance in case the worse happens.
Secondly, after you have gathered different quotes now it is time for you to compare them and make sure that the coverage is adequate for your needs. A low price may not give you the right package to meet your needs so check the policy for the price and choose the best one for your needs.
Lastly, Check with the different companies to see what kind of discounts they may offer, such as good driver or good student or multiple car discounts these options can offer you great savings. There are also multiple insurance policies that can help you save money if you are able to purchase a policy for several types of insurance. Once you find a policy that has a great policy and it is affordable then you can feel comfortable.
Find: Discount Auto Insurance
Buy Cheap: Car Insurance
Bryan Burbank is an expert in the field of Discount Insurance.
Bryan Burbank - EzineArticles Expert Author

What Kind of Discounts Are Available on Auto Insurance? Getting Discounts is an Easy Way to Save


The fact that you are researching possible auto insurance discounts shows initiative. You are a smart shopper who knows that a penny saved is a penny earned and when it comes to insurance premiums you could save a lot more than a few pennies. This article is going to go over some of the most commonly available discounts that most auto insurance providers are likely to offer.
Insurance companies set their prices by trying to determine the level of risk a potential customer presents to the company. Anything that you can do to lessen your perceived risk could result in making you eligible for discounts. Discounts are commonly available for things that make you "less risky" in the eyes of the insurance companies. The following items are common discounts available with most insurance companies.
Maintaining a good driving record
If you can go without having an accident or any moving violations for a given period of time you will probably be eligible for a discount. The amount of time required without incident may vary from one company to another but a good driving record indicates that you are less of a risk.
Maintaining a high GPA (if you are a student)
Auto insurance can be very expensive for younger people because statistically people younger than 25 years old are more likely to be involved in a collision. If you maintain a good grade point average many insurance companies will offer a discount because you will be viewed as being more responsible and therefore less of a risk.
Having an antitheft device
If your car has an alarm system or some other type of antitheft device it is statistically less likely to be stolen or vandalized and this means that the insurance companies are less likely to have to pay for repairs or to replace a stolen vehicle.
A car with good safety features
Things like antilock brakes and airbags can help to avoid accidents or to reduce the severity of injuries if an accident should occur.
Having multiple cars or drivers on the same policy
This is one of the common discounts that does not necessarily reduce the risk to the insurance company but it does increase the amount of revenue that the insurance company receives. If you, your spouse, and your child are all on the same policy you will be eligible for a discount with most companies. It's sort of like buying in bulk to get a discount.
Bundling different types of insurance
Another way to get a discount is to have more than one type of policy with the same company. For example if you have your auto, homeowners, and health insurance all with the same company, you may be eligible for discounts on each of those policies.
The discounts offered may vary quite a bit from one company to another so a quick phone call to your insurance agent could reveal an opportunity to save money. You may be eligible for discounts you never would've thought of. Getting discounts is a great way to save money on your premiums but the easiest way to make sure you're getting the lowest price available is to get a few quotes from a number of different companies. Getting multiple quotes online is fast, easy, and best of all it's free. A few minutes spent getting quotes could reveal an opportunity to save a substantial amount of money.
Get free car insurance quotes and see how much you could be saving. A few minutes of your time could save you a lot of moneyClick here

10 Steps to Buying Auto Insurance



By Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

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Introduction
The following simple steps will help you determine how much car insurance you need to carry. And it will also help you get the best coverage at the lowest price. If you are confused about any of the terms we use, be sure to review the glossary in "Little-Known but Important Insurance Issues."

Step 1: Starting Out
When it comes to auto insurance, you want to be adequately covered if you get in an accident but you don't want to pay any more than you have to. So how can you navigate your way through this murky subject?

Keep telling yourself there is money to be saved. How much? Hundreds, even thousands, per year. For example, one of our editors typed all of his insurance information into a comparative insurance service. The quotes (for very basic coverage on two old cars) ranged from $1,006 to $1,807 — a difference of $801 a year. If you're currently dumping thousands into your insurance company's coffers because of a couple of tickets, an accident or a questionable credit rating, shopping your policy against others may be well worth the effort.

Look at it this way — you can convert the money you save into the purchase of something you've desired for a long time. Hold that goal in your mind.

Step 2: How Much Coverage Do You Need?
To find the right auto insurance, start by figuring out the amount of coverage you need. This varies from state to state. So take a moment to find out what coverage is required where you live. Make a list of the different types of coverage and then return for the next step. (You will find a list of each state's requirements and an explanation of the various types of insurance in "How Much Auto Insurance Do You Really Need?" Also, check out "Little-Known but Important Insurance Issues" as it has a glossary of basic insurance terminology.)

Now that you know what is required, you can decide what you need in addition. Some people are quite cautious. They base their lives on worst-case scenarios. Insurance companies love these people. That's because insurance companies know what your chances are of being in an accident, and how likely it is for your car to be damaged or stolen. The information the insurance company has collected over previous decades is crunched into "actuarial tables" that give insurance adjustors a quick look at the probability of just about any occurrence.

So how much insurance should you buy beyond your state's minimum?

Experts recommend that if you have a lot of assets you should get enough liability coverage to protect them. For instance, if you purchase $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage but have $100,000 in assets, attorneys could go after your treasures in the event of an accident in which you're at fault and the other party's medical bills exceed $50,000.

General recommendations for liability limits are $50,000 bodily injury liability for one person injured in an accident, $100,000 for all people injured in an accident and $25,000 property damage liability (that is, 50/100/25) given that half of the cars on the road are worth more than $20,000. Here again, though, let your financial situation be your guide. If you have no assets, don't buy excess coverage.

Another issue to consider is that the limits of any uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage that you purchase cannot exceed the limits of your liability coverage. Such coverage, he said, can be valuable, as it will cover lost income if you're out of work for several months after being injured in a major accident.

Your driving habits may also be a consideration. If your past is filled with crumpled fenders, if you have a lead foot or a long commute on a treacherous winding road, then you should get more comprehensive coverage. Keep in mind that you don't have to buy collision and comprehensive coverage. If your vehicle is older, if you have a good driving record and if there is a low likelihood that it would be totaled in an accident, but a high likelihood of it being stolen, you could buy comprehensive but not collision.

Step 3: Review Your Driving Record and Current Insurance Policy
Before you begin shopping for insurance you should check the following: the status of your driving record, your current coverage and the premiums you are paying.

You should know how many tickets you have had recently. But time plays tricks and our memories repress painful incidents. If you can't remember how long that speeding ticket has been on your record, check with your state's DMV. If your record will soon improve, and the points you earned will finally disappear, wait until that happens before you get quotes. Nothing drives up the price of insurance like a bad driving record.

Also, you should contact your auto insurance company or pull out a recent bill. Jot down the amount of coverage you have and what you are paying for it. Take note of the yearly and monthly cost of your insurance since many of your quotes will be given both ways. Now you have a figure in mind to try to beat.

Step 4: Solicit Competitive Quotes
Now that you have made several practical and philosophical decisions, it's time to start shopping. Begin by setting aside about an hour for this task. Bring all your records — your current insurance policy, your driver license number and your vehicle registration. Drink plenty of coffee. Have a phone at your elbow. And, of course, power up your computer.

Begin with the online services. If you go to InsWeb.com or other online insurance quote sites, you can type in your information and get a list of comparative quotes. These forms take about 15 minutes to complete. If this bores you, just remind yourself how much you will be saving and that you can use the money to buy something nice for yourself. If the entire shopping process takes you two hours to complete and you save $800, you're effectively earning $400 an hour.

A few things to keep in mind: 1) When you use quote sites, you may not get instant quotes. Some companies may contact you later by e-mail, and some that are not "direct providers" may put you in touch with a local agent, who will then calculate a quote for you. (A "direct provider," like Geico, sells an insurance policy to you directly; other companies like State Farm sell insurance through local agents. We'll discuss the pros and cons of each later.) 2) It's not easy to get quotes from these sites in all states — if you live in New Jersey, for instance, you'll probably find it faster to pick up the phone, since most insurers in this state currently don't provide online quotes.

You can also try getting quotes from some of the insurance companies listed on the Edmunds.com Web site — Liberty MutualGeico or Progressive. These forms will take about 10 minutes each to complete.

Step 5: Record and Compare Quotes
While you're researching companies, make notes in a separate computer file or on a piece of paper divided into categories. This will keep you from duplicating your efforts. When you visit the different online insurance sites, you should take note of several things:







  • Annual and monthly rates for the different types of coverage — make sure to keep the coverage limits the same so that you can make "apples-to-apples" comparisons
  • An 800 number to call for questions you can't get answered online
  • The insurance company's payment policy (When is your payment due? What happens if you're late in making a payment?)
  • Discounts offered by the insurance company that pertain to you
  • The insurance company's consumer complaint ratio from your state's department of insurance Web site (more on this later)
  • The insurance company's A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's ratings (more on this later)
Step 6: Work the Phones
Once you have exhausted your online options, it's time to work the phones. Those companies you haven't been able to get an online quote from should be contacted. At times, doing this process verbally can actually go faster than the online counterpart, providing you have all the information regarding your driver license and vehicle registration close at hand. When you get a quote, be sure to confirm the price. Also, ask them to fax or e-mail the quote to you as a record.

Step 7: Look for Discounts
While talking to the insurance companies' telephone salespeople, make sure you explore all options relating to discounts. Insurance companies give discounts for a good driving record, favorable credit score, safety equipment (for example, antilock brakes), certain occupations or professional affiliations and more. For more guidance in this area, check out "How to Save Money on Auto Insurance."

Step 8: Choosing the Right Insurance Company
You now have most of the information in front of you that you need to make a decision. However, there is something more to consider. You can clearly see which company is least expensive, but when you need them to cover a claim, what kind of job will they do? To put it another way, which is the most reliable insurance company?

Below, we offer a number of issues to guide your thinking and help you reach a decision:





  1. Visit your state's department of insurance and check consumer complaint ratios and basic rate comparison surveys.
  2. Get in touch with local body shops or dealerships you trust and ask which insurance companies they recommend.
  3. Consider contacting an insurance agent for additional information about a particular company.
  4. Check out the financial strength ratings for an insurance company by referring to the A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's ratings.
  5. Look over J.D. Power and Associates' consumer satisfaction surveys reviewing auto insurance companies.
Step 9: Review the Policy Before You Sign
So, you've done your research, and you've decided on a company. Before you sign, though, read the policy. In addition to verifying that it contains the coverage you want, there are two clauses that you should look for in the contract:





  1. Retain your right to sue. "Find out if you are giving up your right to go to court and will be forced into arbitration if there is a disagreement [between you and the insurance company]," one expert advised. "You're much better off if you don't give up this right…. It makes it easier for [insurers] to take advantage of you." If you find a clause to this effect, all isn't necessarily lost. "At least in theory, a contract is a mutual agreement, so you should be able to cross out that line in the policy," he said. If the company won't agree to the policy sans clause, then you should probably take your business elsewhere.
  2. Avoid aftermarket parts requirements. If an insurance company has written in the policy that "new factory," "like kind and quality" or "aftermarket parts" may be used for body shop repairs, go to another company, one expert advised. If you own a relatively new car that you plan to keep for a while, you will probably be much happier if you spend a little more time researching companies on the front end rather than try to fight the company when you have a claim.
Step 10: Cancel Your Old Policy
After you lock in the insurance policy you want with the company you select, you have two more things to do. The first is to cancel coverage with your existing insurance company. Second, if your state requires you to carry proof of insurance, make sure you either have it in your wallet or the glove compartment of your car (some experts discourage this, however — if your car is stolen, the thief has everything he needs to prove the vehicle is his).

Now, there's one last thing to do: reward yourself for saving so much money on car insurance.

Checklist





  • Determine your state's insurance requirements.
  • Consider your own financial situation in relation to the required insurance and consider buying more to protect your assets.
  • Review the status of your driving record — do you have any outstanding tickets or points on your driver license?
  • Check your current coverage to find out how much in premiums you are paying.
  • Get competing quotes from an Internet insurance Web site such as InsWeb.com,YouDecide.com and InsureOne.com.
  • Make follow-up phone calls to insurance companies to get additional information about coverage.
  • Inquire about discounts you might qualify for such as a multiple policy discount.
  • Evaluate the reliability of the insurance company you're considering by visiting your state's insurance Web site.
  • If you have chosen a new insurance company, remember to cancel your old policy.

OUCH! My Car!

Break out those photo's that you took for your insurance claims! I'm badly in need of a photo to post at the top of my blog. So, here is my idea. I will be hosting a picture contest called "OUCH! My Car!" Hopefully this will generate some interesting, funny, and amusing pictures. I will update everyone with more information on how to send your picture submissions, the starting date, closing date, etc, very soon. If you have a photo that you would like to submit, start looking now! Please do not send any photo's that are to graphic. I will not post any photo's that include pictures of people who have been seriously hurt, or killed, as a result of an accident. I recently had a tree branch fall about 30ft, and land on the top of my car! I will be sure to post some pictures for everyone. So, get your pictures ready, and Drive Safe!
 

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