It's safe to assume that car insurance companies don't want you to compare rates. Drivers who get comparison quotes once a year will presumably buy a new policy because there is a good probability of finding a policy with more affordable rates. A recent car insurance study revealed that consumers who compared price quotes annually saved as much as $72 a month compared to policyholders who never shopped around.
If finding the best price on car insurance is your objective, then learning about how to get free comparison quotes and analyze insurance premiums can help you be more efficient.
Truthfully, the best way to get discount car insurance rates is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from insurers who provide auto insurance in Santa Ana. Prices can be compared by following these guidelines.
- Step 1: It will benefit you to learn about auto insurance and the factors you can control to drop your rates. Many factors that are responsible for high rates like traffic tickets, fender benders, and a lousy credit rating can be amended by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
- Step 2: Request rate estimates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give prices from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agencies can quote prices from multiple insurance companies. Begin your rate comparison
- Step 3: Compare the new rates to the price on your current policy and determine if cheaper Suburban coverage is available in Santa Ana. If you find a better price, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
The key thing to remember is to compare the same amount of coverage on each quote and to quote with as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this provides an accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
Buy Santa Ana Chevy Suburban insurance online
The companies in the list below offer free quotes in California. If the list has multiple companies, it's a good idea that you visit as many as you can in order to find the cheapest rates.
These discounts can lower your car insurance quotes
Some providers don't always publicize every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both the well known and the harder-to-find credits available to bring down your rates.
- Federal Government Employee - Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
- Driving Data Discount - Santa Ana drivers who agree to allow data collection to track driving habits through the use of a telematics system such as Progressive's Snapshot and State Farm's In-Drive could save a few bucks if they have good driving habits.
- Discount for Life Insurance - If the company offers life insurance, you could get better premium rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
- Lower Rates for Military - Being deployed with a military unit could qualify you for better premium rates.
- Discount for New Cars - Buying insurance on a new vehicle can get you a discount because new model year vehicles keep occupants safer.
- Defensive Driving Course - Successfully completing a course that instructs on driving safety may get you a small discount and make you a better driver.
- More Vehicles More Savings - Insuring multiple cars or trucks on a single policy qualifies for this discount.
Please keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free car insurance policy, it doesn't quite work that way. But all discounts will definitely reduce the amount you pay for coverage.
The example below visualizes the comparison of Chevy Suburban car insurance rates with and without policy discounts. The data assumes a female driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, claim-free, marriage, homeowner, multi-car, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Larger car insurance companies and the discounts they provide can be found below.
- Progressive has savings for homeowner, continuous coverage, multi-policy, good student, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, and online signing.
- MetLife has discounts for good driver, defensive driver, claim-free, good student, and accident-free.
- Mercury Insurance offers discounts including good student, professional/association, multi-policy, low natural disaster claims, age of vehicle, annual mileage, and good driver.
- Nationwide may include discounts for Farm Bureau membership, multi-policy, accident-free, anti-theft, and defensive driving.
- GEICO may have discounts that include anti-lock brakes, defensive driver, multi-vehicle, air bags, and daytime running lights.
- AAA policyholders can earn discounts including multi-car, pay-in-full, anti-theft, multi-policy, AAA membership discount, and good student.
Before buying, ask every insurance company what discounts are available to you. Some of the discounts discussed earlier might not apply in Santa Ana. To choose providers that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in California, click here.
Rates and detailed analysis
The coverage information shown next showcases estimates of insurance costs for Chevy Suburban models. Having a better understanding of how insurance quotes are figured can assist in making decisions on the best policy to buy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suburban LS 2WD | $330 | $570 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,464 | $122 |
Suburban LT 2WD | $330 | $570 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,464 | $122 |
Suburban LS 4WD | $330 | $570 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,464 | $122 |
Suburban LT 4WD | $330 | $570 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,464 | $122 |
Suburban LTZ 2WD | $330 | $672 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,566 | $131 |
Suburban LTZ 4WD | $368 | $672 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,604 | $134 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Price data assumes married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in specific location which can modify premium rates greatly.
Raise deductibles and save
When buying insurance, a common question is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The figures shown below summarize how much more rates are between low and high coverage deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suburban LS 2WD | $386 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,587 | $132 |
Suburban LT 2WD | $386 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,587 | $132 |
Suburban LS 4WD | $386 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,587 | $132 |
Suburban LT 4WD | $386 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,587 | $132 |
Suburban LTZ 2WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
Suburban LTZ 4WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,733 | $144 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suburban LS 2WD | $238 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,200 | $100 |
Suburban LT 2WD | $238 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,200 | $100 |
Suburban LS 4WD | $238 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,200 | $100 |
Suburban LT 4WD | $238 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,200 | $100 |
Suburban LTZ 2WD | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
Suburban LTZ 4WD | $266 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,292 | $108 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Price estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can affect premium rates considerably.
Based on these figures, using a $250 deductible costs approximately $34 more each month or $408 every year averaged for all Suburban models than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $750 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have more than 22 months between claims, you would probably be better off going with the higher deductible. The table below illustrates the way you can do this calculation yourself.
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $136 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | - $102 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $34 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 - $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $34 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 22 months |
The diagram below illustrates how your deductible choice and can affect Chevy Suburban insurance costs for each different age group. The information is based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.
Rate comparison of full coverage and liability-only
The diagram below shows the difference between Chevy Suburban annual premium costs with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The rates are based on no violations or accidents, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.
When to switch to liability coverage only
There isn't a steadfast formula that is best for determining when to drop full coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let's assume your Chevy Suburban replacement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would get paid by your company is $8,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are paying in excess of $800 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are some cases where only buying liability is not advised. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Smart Consumers Know How to Find Auto Insurance More Affordably
Many different elements are considered when pricing auto insurance. A few of the factors are predictable like your driving record, although others are more transparent such as your credit history or your vehicle rating. An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that help determine your policy premiums. When you know what positively or negatively positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in better auto insurance rates.
Cautious drivers pay lower rates - Drivers with clean records tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Getting just one moving violation may increase your cost by as much as twenty percent. Drivers who have severe violations like DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
The chart below demonstrates how citations and accident claims can drive up Chevy Suburban insurance rates for each age group. The rate quotes are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Pay more out-of-pocket - The deductibles you choose define how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if a claim is determined to be covered. Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims could be rear-ending another vehicle, animal collisions, and damage from wind. The more money the insured is willing to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
More traffic equals higher rates - Living in a small town may provide you with better prices if you are looking for the lowest rates. Fewer drivers means less chance of accidents. Urban drivers have congested traffic and a longer drive to work. More time commuting translates into higher accident risk.
Only buy coverage you need - There are quite a few additional coverages that sound like a good idea at the time if you don't pay attention. Insurance for things like roadside assistance, accidental death, and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. They may sound like good ideas when discussing your needs, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.
Chevy Suburban insurance claim data - Car insurance companies take into consideration insurance loss statistics for every vehicle when determining insurance rates. Models that are shown to have higher claim amounts or frequency will cost more for specific coverages. The next table illustrates the actual insurance loss data for Chevy Suburban vehicles.
For each policy coverage, the claim probability for all vehicles as a whole is set at 100. Numbers that are below 100 mean the vehicle has better than average losses, while numbers shown that are more than 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or tendency to have larger claims.
Vehicle Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet Suburban 1500 4dr 2WD | 90 | 92 | 90 | 67 | ||
Chevrolet Suburban 1500 4dr 4WD | 109 | 113 | 124 | 72 | 70 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Should I contact an insurance agency?
Certain consumers prefer to go talk to an agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases Agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is that drivers can save money and get the lowest rates and still have a local agent.
Once you complete this quick form, the coverage information is submitted to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your car insurance coverage. You won't even need to search for an agent since rate quotes are delivered to you directly. If you wish to compare prices for a specific company, just search and find their rate quote page and give them your coverage information.
Finding the right provider shouldn't rely on just the bottom line cost. These are some valid questions you should ask.
- How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Is coverage determined by price?
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Which companies can they place coverage with?
If you are searching for a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple different types of agencies that you can choose from. Insurance agencies in Santa Ana can either be exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments. Either can insure your vehicles properly, but it's important to know why they differ because it can factor into your agent selection.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agents
These type of agents can only provide one company's prices like Allstate and State Farm. They are unable to compare other company's rates so they really need to provide good service. Exclusive insurance agents are usually well trained on their company's products which helps offset the inability to provide other markets.
Below are Santa Ana exclusive agents that can give you price quotes.
Allstate Insurance: Sonia Carolina Franco
2017 N Main St - Santa Ana, CA 92706 - (714) 515-8062 - View Map
Monica Drevon - State Farm Insurance Agent
3740 S Bristol St - Santa Ana, CA 92704 - (714) 966-2679 - View Map
Farmers Insurance - Araceli Padilla
2424 N Grand Ave b - Santa Ana, CA 92705 - (714) 543-4638 - View Map
Independent Agents
Independent agents are appointed with more than one company so they can quote policies through many different car insurance companies and get the cheapest rates. If premiums increase, they can switch companies in-house and you don't have to do anything.
When comparing rate quotes, we highly recommend that you contact several independent insurance agents to get the most accurate price comparison.
The following are independent agencies in Santa Ana that are able to give price quote information.
Nano Insurance Services
423 E First St - Santa Ana, CA 92701 - (714) 564-0398 - View Map
Adriana's Insurance Services
2302 S Bristol St A - Santa Ana, CA 92704 - (714) 352-3777 - View Map
Velece Insurance
830 N Ross St - Santa Ana, CA 92701 - (714) 558-1034 - View Map
After you get satisfactory answers to these questions and locked in a price quote, you've probably found a car insurance agent that can be trusted to properly insure your vehicles. It's important to know that consumers can cancel a policy whenever you choose to so don't think you're contractually obligated to the car insurance policy for any length of time.
How much auto insurance do I need?
When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really isn't a cookie cutter policy. Your situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions might help in determining whether you would benefit from an agent's advice.
- Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
- How high should my medical payments coverage be?
- How can I find cheaper teen driver insurance?
- How can I force my company to pay a claim?
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in California?
- Who does medical payments coverage extend to?
- How much liability coverage do I need in California?
If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and may give you better protection.
Shop around and save
We just showed you many tips how you can get a better price on Chevy Suburban insurance in Santa Ana. The key thing to remember is the more you quote Santa Ana car insurance, the better likelihood of getting affordable Santa Ana car insurance quotes. Consumers may even find the best prices are with a lesser-known regional company. Some small companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate or State Farm.
Budget-friendly insurance in Santa Ana is available both online as well as from insurance agents, and you should compare rates from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not provide online quoting and many times these small, regional companies prefer to sell through independent agents.
More detailed insurance information can be read by following these links:
- Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has the Cheapest Santa Ana Auto Insurance Rates for Teachers? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for High Mileage Drivers in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with Good Credit in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
- Five Mistakes to Avoid (Insurance Information Institute)
- Prepare your Teens for Safe Driving (InsureUonline.org)