Are you sick of overpaying and want more affordable insurance rates in Oakland, CA? Oakland consumers have many options when looking for the best price on car insurance. You can either waste hours struggling with agents to get rate comparisons or utilize the internet to get rate quotes. There is a better way to shop for insurance so you’re going to learn the best way to compare rates for a and obtain the cheapest rates from Oakland insurance agents and online providers.
A recent insurance study discovered that the vast majority of insurance customers have purchased from the same company for four years or more, and 38% of customers have never taken the time to shop around. California consumers could save an average of nearly $469 each year just by shopping around, but they don’t want to spend time to compare rates and save money.
If you have a policy now or just want cheaper rates, you can use this information to lower your rates and possibly find even better coverage. These tips will teach you a little about the best ways to compare prices and some money-saving tips. You only have to learn the best way to compare company rates using one simple form.
The following companies provide quotes in Oakland, CA. In order to find the best cheap auto insurance in Oakland, it’s a good idea that you click on several of them to get the most competitive price.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Policy Premium | 6-month Policy Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Malibu LTZ | $1,904 | $952 | $159 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LT Crew Cab 4WD | $1,904 | $952 | $159 |
| Dodge Ram Crew Cab TRX 2WD | $1,904 | $952 | $159 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $1,482 | $741 | $124 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $1,802 | $901 | $150 |
| Ford F-150 XL Crew Cab 2WD | $1,648 | $824 | $137 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $1,804 | $902 | $150 |
| GMC Sierra SLT Crew Cab 2WD | $1,904 | $952 | $159 |
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,482 | $741 | $124 |
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $1,482 | $741 | $124 |
| Honda Civic EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $1,956 | $978 | $163 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $1,804 | $902 | $150 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD | $1,904 | $952 | $159 |
| Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4WD 2-Dr | $1,648 | $824 | $137 |
| Kia Optima SX | $2,006 | $1,003 | $167 |
| Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 2-Dr Coupe | $2,108 | $1,054 | $176 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $2,006 | $1,003 | $167 |
| Toyota Corolla XRS | $1,904 | $952 | $159 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $1,802 | $901 | $150 |
| Get Rate Quotes for Your Vehicle Go | |||
Premium data assumes single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and safe-driver. Rate information does not factor in specific zip code location which can decrease or increase insurance rates substantially.
Three good reasons to insure your vehicle
Despite the high cost of buying insurance in Oakland, insurance may not be optional for several reasons.
- Most states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires a specific minimum amount of liability protection 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.
- If your vehicle has a loan, it’s guaranteed your bank will stipulate that you buy insurance to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If you default on your policy, the bank may insure your vehicle at a much higher premium rate and force you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
- Insurance safeguards not only your vehicle but also your assets. It will also cover many types of medical costs for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also covers legal expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of having auto insurance outweigh the cost, especially with large liability claims. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver is overpaying more than $865 each year so compare rates each time the policy renews to save money.
Tailor your car insurance coverage to you
When quoting and choosing a policy for your personal vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.
Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- Do I have coverage if I rent a car in Mexico?
- Which is better, split liability limits or combined limits?
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
- Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.
Detailed coverages of your car insurance policy
Learning about specific coverages of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many California drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.
Collision coverage – This coverage covers damage to your vehicle from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as crashing into a building, crashing into a ditch, sustaining damage from a pot hole and sideswiping another vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive car insurance – This covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like damage from a tornado or hurricane, damage from getting keyed, damage from flooding, hitting a deer and hail damage. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability coverages – Liability insurance provides protection from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects you from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see values of 15/30/5 which stand for $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as structural damage, legal defense fees, pain and suffering and emergency aid. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.
The illustration below demonstrates why the minimum limit may not be adequate.
Coverage for medical expenses – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for expenses for prosthetic devices, nursing services, dental work, surgery and doctor visits. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Shop around and save
Low-cost auto insurance in Oakland is possible online and from local insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers may not provide price quotes online and many times these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
Drivers who switch companies do it for many reasons like poor customer service, high prices, unfair underwriting practices or denial of a claim. Whatever your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is less work than it seems.
In this article, we covered many ways to reduce auto insurance rates online in Oakland. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote Oakland car insurance, the higher your chance of finding affordable Oakland car insurance quotes. You may even discover the biggest savings come from the least-expected company.
Steps to finding low-cost auto insurance in Oakland
If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to quote cheaper auto insurance prices is to compare quotes once a year from providers who provide car insurance in Oakland.
First, try to comprehend how insurance companies determine prices and the measures you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that cause high rates like tickets, at-fault accidents, and a negative credit history can be controlled by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
Second, get rate quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can give you price quotes for a wide range of companies.
Third, compare the price quotes to the premium of your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save money and change companies, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
Fourth, tell your current company to cancel your existing policy and submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application to the newly selected company. As soon as you can, place the new certificate verifying coverage along with your vehicle registration.
A valuable tip to remember is to try to compare the same deductibles and limits on each quote and and to get price estimates from as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this provides the most accurate price comparison and a complete selection of prices.
Additional information is available at these links:
- Distracted Driving Extends Beyond Texting (State Farm)
- Who Has Cheap Oakland Auto Insurance for Drivers Under 21? (FAQ)
- How Much is Car Insurance for Drivers with Accidents in Oakland? (FAQ)
- What are my Rights when Filing a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Senior Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)