The easiest way to get low-cost BMW X1 insurance is to start doing an annual price comparison from different companies in Irvine.
- Try to learn a little about individual coverages and the measures you can control to keep rates low. Many policy risk factors that drive up the price such as distracted driving and a not-so-good credit history can be amended by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide prices from many different companies.
- Compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage and determine if cheaper X1 coverage is available. If you find a lower rate and decide to switch, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Notify your company or agent of your intent to cancel your current policy. Submit the application along with any required down payment to the new company. Once the application is submitted, place the new certificate verifying coverage with your vehicle’s registration.
The most important part of this process is to try to compare identical limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to analyze as many car insurance companies as possible. This helps ensure an accurate price comparison and the best price quote selection.
We don’t have to point out that fact that car insurance companies don’t want you to look at other companies. Drivers who get comparison quotes once a year are highly likely to buy a different policy because there is a high probability of finding a lower-priced policy. A study discovered that consumers who shopped around every year saved $850 each year compared to other drivers who never shopped for cheaper rates.
If finding the best price on insurance in Irvine is your goal, then having a grasp of how to get free comparison quotes and analyze auto insurance can save time, money, and frustration.
Getting a cheaper price on insurance is an easy way to save money. All that’s required is to spend a little time to get quotes from some recommended companies.
It’s so easy to compare price quotes online that it makes it a waste of time to make phone calls or go to different Irvine agent offices. Comparing BMW X1 insurance rates online eliminates the middleman unless you require the professional abilities of a local agency. However, consumers can price shop online but buy the policy through an agent.
The companies shown below provide free quotes in Irvine, CA. To get cheap auto insurance in Irvine, we recommend you visit two to three different companies in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Auto insurance in California serves several purposes
Even though Irvine X1 insurance rates can get expensive, buying auto insurance is not optional due to several reasons.
First, just about all states have minimum liability requirements which means you are required to carry a specific minimum amount of liability insurance coverage if you drive a vehicle. 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 you bought your car with a loan, it’s guaranteed your bank will require you to buy full coverage to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your BMW at a much higher premium rate and force you to reimburse them the higher price.
Third, insurance protects both your assets and your vehicle. It also can pay for medical transport and hospital expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, your auto insurance policy will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of buying auto insurance more than offset the price you pay, especially if you ever need it. Today the average American driver is overpaying over $850 per year so you should quote your policy with other companies at every renewal to make sure the price is not too high.
Learn about car insurance coverages for a BMW X1
Learning about specific coverages of your policy helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. Car insurance terms can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are the normal coverages found on the average car insurance policy.
Liability car insurance
Liability insurance protects you from damage that occurs to a person or their property. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show policy limits of 15/30/5 which stand for $15,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000.
Liability can pay for claims such as medical services, loss of income, medical expenses, structural damage and attorney fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. California state law requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.
The illustration below shows why buying the state minimum limits may not be enough.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your BMW X1.
Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits (California limits are 15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for bills for things like funeral costs, doctor visits and X-ray expenses. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Collision coverage protection
This coverage covers damage to your X1 resulting from a collision with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as crashing into a building, hitting a parking meter and driving through your garage door. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your X1 to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as hitting a bird, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from getting keyed and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
In the end, you can save money
When searching for affordable Irvine auto insurance quotes, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.
Low-cost BMW X1 insurance in Irvine can be purchased on the web and also from your neighborhood Irvine agents, and you should compare rates from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies do not offer rate quotes online and usually these small, regional companies prefer to sell through independent insurance agents.
Other information
- Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has the Cheapest Irvine Auto Insurance for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record? (FAQ)
- What Determines the Price of My Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- Speed and Speed Limit FAQ (iihs.org)