It takes a few minutes, but the best way to find low-cost Saturn Astra insurance in Santa Ana is to start doing an annual price comparison from insurers who provide auto insurance in California.
- Try to learn about the coverage provided by your policy and the changes you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating factors that drive up the price like accidents, traffic violations, and a low credit score can be rectified by making minor changes in your lifestyle. This article provides more ideas to prevent high rates and find more discounts that you may not know about.
- Request rate estimates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only give prices from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can provide prices from multiple insurance companies.
- Compare the new rates to your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available. If you find better rates and buy the policy, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Provide adequate notice to your current company to cancel the current policy and submit a signed application and payment to your new insurance company. Immediately safely store the certificate verifying coverage along with your vehicle registration.
A crucial key to this process is to use similar limits and deductibles on each quote request and and to get prices from as many companies as you can. Doing this ensures an apples-to-apples comparison and a good representation of prices.
A recent study showed that nearly 70% of consumers have purchased from the same company for more than four years, and nearly half have never compared quotes from other companies. Drivers in California could pocket almost 35% a year by just shopping around, but they don't believe the benefits if they just switched companies.
Most of the larger companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive allow you to get coverage price quotes direct online. This process is quite easy as you simply type in the coverages you want as requested by the quote form. After you complete the form, the system orders credit information and your driving record and returns pricing information.
The ability to get online quotes for Saturn Astra insurance in Santa Ana helps simplify price comparisons, and it is imperative to compare as many rates as possible if you want to get cheaper prices.
To get comparison pricing now, consider comparing rates from the companies shown below. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you copy the coverages exactly as they are listed on your policy. Using the same limits helps guarantee you will receive a fair comparison based on identical coverages.
The car insurance companies shown below provide price comparisons in Santa Ana, CA. If more than one company is shown, it's highly recommended you visit two to three different companies to get the lowest price.
Three reasons to not skimp on auto insurance
Despite the high cost, paying for auto insurance is required by state law in California and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.
First, most states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require specific limits of liability 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.
Second, if your Astra has a lienholder, most banks will stipulate that you have comprehensive coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the lender will be forced to insure your Saturn at an extremely high rate and make you pay for the expensive policy.
Third, auto insurance protects both your assets and your car. Insurance will pay for many types of medical costs for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of buying auto insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially when you need to use it. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver overpays as much as $800 each year so you should quote and compare rates every year to make sure the price is not too high.
Santa Ana insurance discounts
Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise every policy discount in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of a few of the more common as well as the least known credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- Multi-line Discount - Some insurance companies give a discounted price on car insurance if you buy some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
- Home Ownership Discount - Simply owning a home can earn you a little savings due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
- Discounts for Cautious Drivers - Drivers who avoid accidents can save as much as half off their rates compared to accident prone drivers.
- Passenger Safety Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings of more than 20%.
- New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can get you a discount because newer models keep occupants safer.
- Student in College - Any of your kids who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from Santa Ana and don't have a car may be insured at a cheaper rate.
As a footnote on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn't work that way.
Companies and a partial list of their discounts are:
- Travelers has discounts for multi-car, multi-policy, new car, student away at school, and continuous insurance.
- 21st Century policyholders can earn discounts including automatic seat belts, defensive driver, student driver, anti-lock brakes, homeowners, and early bird.
- State Farm may offer discounts for multiple autos, defensive driving training, Steer Clear safe driver discount, good driver, and multiple policy.
- GEICO may include discounts for good student, anti-theft, seat belt use, membership and employees, and anti-lock brakes.
- SAFECO includes discounts for bundle discounts, homeowner, teen safe driver, accident prevention training, teen safety rewards, anti-lock brakes, and drive less.
- AAA offers discounts for education and occupation, multi-policy, good student, good driver, and multi-car.
Before buying, ask all the companies which discounts can lower your rates. Some credits may not apply to policyholders in every state. To view providers offering insurance discounts in Santa Ana, follow this link.
When do I need an agent's advice?
Always keep in mind that when comparing coverage online or from an agent for your personal vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different.
For example, these questions may help highlight if you would benefit from an agent's advice.
- Why are teen drivers so expensive to add on to my policy?
- Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
- What is GAP insurance?
- How much liability coverage do I need in California?
- Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
- Can I rent a car in Mexico?
- Do I need more liability coverage?
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
- Am I covered if hit by an uninsured driver?
- How can I find cheaper teen driver insurance?
If you can't answer these questions then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and may give you better protection.
What is the best auto insurance company in California?
Picking the top insurer can be rather challenging considering how many different companies insure vehicles in Santa Ana. The rank data shown next could help you analyze which auto insurance companies you want to consider purchasing coverage from.
Top 10 Santa Ana Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- AAA of Southern California
- GEICO
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Mercury Insurance
- The General
- Progressive
- Allstate
- AAA Insurance
- American Family