Best GMC Sierra 3500HD Insurance in Santa Ana

Having to pay for overpriced insurance in Santa Ana can sap your budget and maybe even restrict other spending.

It's a known fact that insurance companies don't want you to look for a cheaper policy. Insureds who shop around annually are very likely to buy a different policy because there is a good chance of getting low-cost coverage. A recent survey discovered that people who regularly compared price quotes saved approximately $3,400 over four years as compared to drivers who don't make a habit of comparing rates.

If finding the lowest price on GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance is the reason you're reading this, then learning a little about how to get free comparison quotes and analyze car insurance can make it simple to find affordable coverage. There is such a variety of insurers to insure vehicles with, and although it's nice to have a selection, more choices can make it harder to compare rates and find the lowest cost insurance.

Affordable companies for GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance in California

The companies in the list below have been selected to offer quotes in California. If the list has multiple companies, it's a good idea that you click on several of them in order to find the lowest rates.

Rates and other information

The premium information shown next covers different policy rates for GMC Sierra 3500HD models. Learning how premiums are figured can help guide drivers when making decisions when shopping your coverage around.

Data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Price estimates do not factor in your specific Santa Ana location which can affect prices greatly.

Impact of careless driving on Santa Ana insurance rates

The diagram below shows how speeding tickets and accident claims can impact GMC Sierra 3500HD auto insurance rates for each age group. The rate quotes are based on a single male driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Full coverage rates vs. liability-only

The diagram below illustrates the difference between GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance rates with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The information is based on a clean driving record, no claims, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Are you wasting money on full coverage?

There is no set guideline for dropping comp and collision coverage, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is 10% or more of the vehicle's replacement cost less your deductible, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

For example, let's assume your GMC Sierra 3500HD replacement cost is $5,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $4,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If premiums are more than $400 a year to have full coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

There are some circumstances where removing full coverage is not advised. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not buy liability only.

Discounts can help save money on GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance in Santa Ana

Some insurers don't necessarily list every policy discount in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the best known as well as some of the hidden discounts that may be available.

• Safety Course Discount - Completing a defensive driving class could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• Responsible Driver Discount - Insureds without accidents can save up to 40% or more on their Santa Ana auto insurance quote than their less cautious counterparts.
• Save with a New Car - Insuring a new Sierra 3500HD can cost up to 25% less since new model year vehicles have better safety ratings.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may get savings of 20 to 30 percent.
• Theft Prevention System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and that can save you a little bit as well.
• Pay Early and Save - If you can afford to pay the entire bill instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
• Senior Discount - Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may receive a slight reduction on a Santa Ana auto insurance quote.
• Auto/Home Discount - When you combine your homeowners and auto insurance and place coverage with the same company they may give you a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
• Memberships - Being in a civic or occupational organization in Santa Ana could earn you a nice discount on insurance.
• No Claim Discounts - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially as opposed to policyholders that have many claims.

You can save money using discounts, but some credits don't apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Even though the math looks like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you aren't that lucky. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your policy premiums.

The diagram below shows the comparison of GMC Sierra 3500HD car insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The prices are based on a male driver, no claims or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, safe-driver, marriage, multi-policy, claim-free, and multi-car discounts applied.

Some of the larger companies that may have most of the discounts above include:

• Progressive
• GEICO
• State Farm
• Esurance
• The Hartford

If you are trying to find affordable Santa Ana auto insurance quotes, ask each insurance company what discounts are available to you. Some discounts listed above may not apply everywhere. To see insurers who offer online GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance quotes in California, click this link.

Neighborhood agents and car insurance

A small number of people just want to buy from a local agent and doing that can be a smart decision Most agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of comparing rate quotes online is that you can obtain cheap car insurance rates and still have a local agent. Supporting local insurance agencies is definitely important in Santa Ana.

By using this quick form, the coverage information is sent to local insurance agents in Santa Ana that provide free Santa Ana auto insurance quotes for your coverage. It's much easier because you don't need to find an agent due to the fact that quote results will go to you instantly. If you want to compare prices for a specific company, you just need to jump over to their website and submit a quote form there.

If you're trying to find a reliable agent, you should know the different agency structures and how they operate. Santa Ana agents are classified as either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive. Either type can sell affordable car insurance policies, but it's a good idea to understand how they differ because it can factor into the kind of agent you use.

Independent Car Insurance Agents

Agents in the independent channel can quote rates with many companies so they can quote policies with lots of companies and find the cheapest car insurance rates. If they find a cheaper price, your agent can just switch to a different company and the insured can keep the same agent. If you are comparing car insurance prices, you absolutely need to include rate quotes from independent agents in order to have the best price comparison.

Below are Santa Ana independent insurance agents that can give you comparison quotes.

More Santa Ana agents

Exclusive Car Insurance Agents

These type of agents are contracted to one company and examples are State Farm, Allstate, or Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agents cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so if the price isn't competitive there isn't much they can do. These agents are highly trained on what they offer which helps them sell on service rather than price.

Shown below is a short list of exclusive insurance agents in Santa Ana who can help you get price quote information.

More Santa Ana agents

Finding the right car insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap quote. The answers to these questions are important, too.

• Who are their largest clients?
• Can you use your own choice of collision repair facility?
• How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
• Does the agent help file claims?
• If independent agents, which companies do they recommend?
• Does the company have a local claim office in Santa Ana?

Auto insurance 101

Understanding the coverages of a car insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you'll find typical coverage types available from car insurance companies.

Collision insurance

Collision insurance pays for damage to your Sierra 3500HD resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as crashing into a building, sustaining damage from a pot hole and hitting a parking meter. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible on your Sierra 3500HD in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Liability car insurance

This coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other's property or people. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits of 15/30/5 which stand for a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $5,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability insurance covers claims such as medical expenses, funeral expenses and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as large an amount as possible. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but it's recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.

The illustration below shows why buying low liability limits may not provide you with enough coverage.

Comprehensive car insurance

This coverage will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers things like a broken windshield, vandalism, theft and hitting a bird. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it's not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Coverage for medical expenses

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for bills like EMT expenses, rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits, dental work and pain medications. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers

This coverage protects you and your vehicle's occupants when the "other guys" do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your GMC Sierra 3500HD.

Since many California drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (15/30/5 in California), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That's why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea. Most of the time these limits are identical to your policy's liability coverage.

Be persistent to save money

We've covered a lot of techniques to get a better price on GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance in Santa Ana. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even be surprised to find that the best price on insurance is with a lesser-known regional company. Regional companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

More affordable insurance in Santa Ana is attainable on the web and from local insurance agents, so get free Santa Ana auto insurance quotes from both of them so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller providers only sell coverage through independent agents.

How to buy lower priced GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance in Santa Ana

The best way we recommend to find more affordable GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance in Santa Ana is to compare quotes annually from different companies that sell auto insurance in California. You can shop around by following these steps.

• First, it will benefit you to learn about policy coverages and the factors you can control to prevent high rates. Many policy risk factors that result in higher rates such as multiple speeding tickets and bad credit can be remedied by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
• Second, request price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agencies can quote prices from multiple companies.
• Third, compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage and determine if there is any savings. If you can save some money, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
• Fourth, give notification to your current company of your intent to cancel your current coverage and submit a completed application and payment to the new company. Once received, place your new certificate verifying proof of insurance in your glove compartment.

The critical component of shopping around is to make sure you're comparing identical deductibles and limits on every quote request and to quote with as many companies as possible. Doing this provides a level playing field and maximum price selection.

For more information, link through to the articles below:

• Coverage Information (Progressive Insurance)
• How Much are Santa Ana Car Insurance Quotes for Homeowners? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Honda Accord in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
• Choosing an Insurance Company (Insurance Information Institute)
• Honda warning system reduces insurance claims (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)