Acura TL Insurance Rates in Oakland

It’s safe to assume that auto insurance companies want to keep you from comparing rates. People who shop around for the cheapest price are highly likely to buy a new policy because there is a high probability of getting low-cost coverage. A study showed that drivers who made a habit of comparing rates saved on average $3,450 over four years compared to other drivers who never shopped for cheaper rates.

If saving the most money on Acura TL insurance is your target objective, then having some insight into how to find and compare insurance rates can help simplify the task of finding more affordable coverage.

If you want to save money, the best way to find affordable quotes for Acura TL insurance in Oakland is to do an annual price comparison from providers that sell auto insurance in California. Prices can be compared by following these guidelines.

1. Try to learn a little about what coverages are included in your policy and the measures you can control to drop your rates. Many factors that are responsible for high rates like getting speeding tickets and poor credit rating can be remedied by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
2. Request rate estimates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from multiple sources.
3. Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to see if a cheaper price is available in Oakland. If you can save money, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
4. Give proper notification to your current agent or company of your intention to cancel the current policy. Submit a down payment along with a signed application to your new insurance company. Once received, put the proof of insurance paperwork in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.

A good piece of advice is to try to compare identical limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get rate quotes from every insurance company. This ensures a fair rate comparison and a thorough price selection.

Insurance rate breakdown

The information displayed below outlines estimates of policy rates for Acura TL models. Having a better understanding of how premiums are established is important for drivers to make smart policy decisions.

Cost estimates assume single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in specific garaging location which can increase or decrease price quotes significantly.

Should you raise deductibles?

One common question asked by Oakland drivers is where to set your physical damage deductibles. The figures shown below approximate the differences in price between low and high insurance deductibles. The first rate table uses a $100 physical damage coverage deductible and the second rate chart uses a $500 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in garaging location in Oakland which can increase or decrease price quotes noticeably.

Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $100 deductible costs approximately $34 more each month or $408 annually than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $400 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally go at a minimum 12 months between claims, you would probably be better off by going with a higher deductible. The table below shows the way this determination is made.

One big caveat is that raising deductibles means you will have to pay more when you have a claim. You will want to have some savings in the bank in order to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.

The example below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can influence Acura TL insurance prices for each age group. The price estimates are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.

Rate comparison of male drivers versus female drivers

The illustration below shows the comparison of Acura TL premium costs for male and female drivers. The premiums are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are factored in.

Does full coverage make sense?

The chart below illustrates the comparison of Acura TL car insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage. Data assumes a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no policy discounts are applied.

When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage

There is no definitive guideline for dropping comp and collision coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than about 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Acura TL replacement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would get paid by your company is $8,000 after paying your policy deductible. If you are paying in excess of $800 annually for full coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

There are some scenarios where only buying liability is not a good idea. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to maintain full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should maintain full coverage.

Seven Tips to Get More Affordable Oakland Insurance Premiums

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that go into determining your auto insurance rates. If you have some idea of what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that can earn you lower rates. Lots of things are taken into consideration when pricing auto insurance. Some factors are common sense such as traffic violations, but other factors are more obscure such as your credit history or how safe your car is.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” that factor into your rates.

Better rates with anti-theft devices – Driving a car with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can help prevent vehicle theft.

Get better rates if married – Having a significant other can actually save you money on your auto insurance bill. Marriage translates into being more mature than a single person and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.

How’s your driving record? – Good drivers pay less for auto insurance as compared to those with violations. Having a single speeding ticket can boost insurance rates to the point where it’s not affordable. Drivers who have received flagrant violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to maintain a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.

The chart below illustrates how traffic citations and at-fault fender-benders can increase Acura TL auto insurance rates for each age group. The premiums assume a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.

Never allow your coverage to lapse – Driving your car without having proper coverage is a big no-no and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage lapse. Not only will you pay more, being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.

Safer occupants lowers auto insurance rates – Cars with five star safety ratings can get you lower premiums. Highly rated vehicles reduce occupant injuries and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims which can result in lower premiums.

Extra coverages that may not be needed – Policies have extra add-on coverages that sound like a good idea at the time when buying auto insurance. Coverages for personal injury protection, death and dismemberment, and extra life insurance coverage are some examples. They may sound like good ideas when discussing your needs, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so consider taking them off your policy.

Car insurance liability limits – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance provides coverage if a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.

Acura TL insurance loss probability – Companies analyze the history of losses when they calculate premium rates for each model. Vehicles that are shown to have higher claim frequency or loss amount will cost more for specific coverages. The data below shows the loss history for Acura TL vehicles.

For each coverage category, the claim probability for all vehicles combined as an average is a value of 100. Percentage numbers below 100 indicate better than average losses, while percentages above 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or an increased likelihood of larger losses.

Car insurance savings summarized

You just read many tips how you can get a better price on Acura TL insurance in Oakland. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers can often provide lower prices in certain areas compared to the large companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.

Discount Acura TL insurance in Oakland is available online and with local Oakland insurance agents, so get free Oakland auto insurance quotes from both of them to have the best selection. A few companies don’t offer rate quotes online and usually these smaller providers sell through local independent agencies.

For more information, feel free to browse these articles:

• Reducing Your Risks in a Car Crash Video (iihs.org)
• How Much is Car Insurance for 16 Year Olds in Oakland? (FAQ)
• What Insurance is Cheapest for a School Permit in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Car Insurance: When not to Skimp (BankRate.com)
• How to Avoid Buying a Flooded Car (Insurance Information Institute)
• Understanding Limits and Deductibles (Allstate)
• Rollover Crash FAQ (iihs.org)