A recent car insurance study discovered that nearly 70% of drivers kept buying from the same company for at least the last four years, and almost half have never even compared quotes to find affordable rates. Most drivers in California could pocket $500 a year, but most undervalue the benefits if they switched to a cheaper policy.
If you want to save money, the best way to get discount auto insurance rates is to start comparing prices yearly from insurers who provide car insurance in Irvine.
Step 1: Spend some time learning about how insurance works and the measures you can take to prevent high rates. Many things that result in higher prices such as careless driving and a poor credit score can be improved by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
Step 2: Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only give prices from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can provide rate quotes for many different companies. View companies
Step 3: Compare the price quotes to your current policy premium to see if cheaper Magnum coverage is available. If you find a better price, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
Step 4: Notify your agent or company of your decision to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit a down payment along with a completed application for your new policy. Immediately put the certificate verifying coverage in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.
An important bit of advice to remember is to try to use identical coverages on every quote request and and to compare as many different companies as possible. This ensures an accurate price comparison and maximum price selection.
Auto insurance policy discounts for Dodge Magnum insurance in Irvine
Auto insurance is not inexpensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. Some of these discounts will be visible when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.
- Safe Driver Discounts – Accident-free drivers can pay as much as 50% less compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you can bundle your auto and home insurance and place coverage with the same company you will save nearly 15% which can help you find the cheapest Dodge Magnum insurance in Irvine.
- Drive Less and Save – Low annual miles could be rewarded with better auto insurance rates on cars that stay parked.
- Defensive Driver – Successfully completing a driver safety course could save 5% or more if you qualify.
- Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Multi-Vehicle Discounts – Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Early Payment Discounts – By making one initial payment instead of making monthly payments you can avoid the installment charge.
- Discount for New Cars – Insuring a vehicle that is new can get you a discount because newer models have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Clubs and Organizations – Joining qualifying employment or professional organizations can get you a small discount when shopping for auto insurance.
- Military Deployment Discount – Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premium rates.
One last thing about discounts, some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you aren’t that lucky.
To find insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in California, click here to view.
Detailed coverages of your insurance policy
Knowing the specifics of your policy aids in choosing which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. Insurance terms can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverages found on most insurance policies.
Insurance for medical payments
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses such as doctor visits, chiropractic care and rehabilitation expenses. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers all vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Coverage for liability
This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to people or other property in an accident. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 15/30/5 that translate to a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability coverage pays for things such as medical services, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and structural damage. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.
The chart below shows why minimum state limits may not be adequate coverage.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
This pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as hail damage, damage from flooding and damage from getting keyed. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Dodge Magnum.
Since many California drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (15/30/5 in California), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Most of the time the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Collision coverage
Collision coverage covers damage to your Magnum resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers claims such as scraping a guard rail, hitting a parking meter, hitting a mailbox and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your Magnum to get cheaper collision coverage.
Quote. Compare. Save.
While you’re price shopping online, it’s very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced full coverage and discovered at claim time that they should have had better coverage. The goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Cost effective Dodge Magnum insurance is definitely available both online as well as from insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who may not have online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through independent insurance agents.
More tips and info about auto insurance is available in these articles:
- Auto Insurance Basics (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for Active Military in Irvine? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for Homeowners in Irvine? (FAQ)
- How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
- Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)
- Airbag FAQ (iihs.org)
- Can I Drive Legally without Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)