It’s an obvious conclusion that auto insurance companies don’t want their customers to go rate shopping. People who compare other prices are highly likely to buy a different policy because there are good odds of finding more affordable rates. A recent auto insurance study revealed that people who made a habit of comparing rate quotes saved as much as $3,450 over four years compared to policyholders who never shopped around for lower prices.
If finding the cheapest price on insurance in Oakland is your ultimate target, then knowing how to get free comparison quotes and analyze insurance rates can help you succeed in finding affordable rates.
The best way we recommend to find cheaper prices for car insurance rates in Oakland is to start doing a yearly price comparison from insurance carriers who provide car insurance in California. Rates can be compared by completing these steps.
Step 1: Try to learn about car insurance and the factors you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that result in higher rates like getting speeding tickets and an imperfect credit rating can be improved by making minor changes to your lifestyle. Later in this article we will cover additional tips to help keep prices low and get additional discounts that may have been overlooked.
Step 2: Compare prices from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agencies can provide prices for many different companies. Start a quote
Step 3: Compare the new quotes to your existing rates to see if cheaper 328i coverage is available in Oakland. If you can save some money and buy the policy, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
A valuable tip to remember is to use the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get price estimates from as many different insurance providers as possible. This helps ensure a fair price comparison and a complete price analysis.
If you have a policy now or are just looking to switch companies, use these tips to reduce the price you pay and still get good coverage. Locating the best rates in Oakland seems hard but is not really that difficult. You just need to know the most effective way to get comparison rates from many different companies.
The providers in the list below are ready to provide price quotes in Oakland, CA. To get cheaper auto insurance in California, we suggest you get price quotes from several of them to find the most affordable auto insurance rates.
Save a ton on BMW 328i insurance in Oakland with these insurance discounts
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but discounts can save money and there are some available to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.
- Sign Early and Save – Some larger companies provide a discount for switching policies early. The savings is around 10%.
- E-sign Discounts – A few insurance companies will provide an incentive for completing your application over the internet.
- Multi-Vehicle Discounts – Drivers who insure primary and secondary vehicles on the same insurance policy can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts may qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Insureds that choose to allow their insurance company to study vehicle usage by using a telematic data system like Allstate’s Drivewise may see discounts as long as the data is positive.
Discounts save money, but please remember that some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you aren’t that lucky.
The example below compares BMW 328i insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The prices are based on a female driver, no claims or driving citations, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, homeowner, marriage, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-car discounts applied.
A partial list of companies who might offer most of these discounts may include but are not limited to:
Before purchasing a policy, check with each company or agent which credits you are entitled to. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not apply in every state. If you would like to choose from a list of providers with the best discounts in Oakland, follow this link.
BMW 328i insurance coverage information
The rate information displayed below covers a range of coverage costs for BMW 328i models. Understanding more about how insurance policy rates are figured can assist in making smart policy decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 328I 4-Dr Sedan | $306 | $628 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,660 | $138 |
| 328I 4-Dr Sedan | $306 | $628 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,660 | $138 |
| 328I Station Wagon | $342 | $724 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,682 | $140 |
| 328I 2-Dr Coupe | $342 | $724 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,682 | $140 |
| 328I 2-Dr Coupe | $342 | $724 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,682 | $140 |
| 328I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $342 | $724 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,792 | $149 |
| 328I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $342 | $724 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,792 | $149 |
| 328I 2-Dr Convertible | $342 | $724 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,792 | $149 |
| 328I 2-Dr Convertible | $342 | $724 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,792 | $149 |
| 328I 2-Dr Coupe | $342 | $724 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,682 | $140 |
| 328I xDrive 2-Dr Coupe | $342 | $724 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,682 | $140 |
| 328I xDrive Station Wagon | $342 | $724 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,682 | $140 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver. Information does not factor in specific location information which can alter auto insurance rates noticeably.
Driving violations and accidents
The chart below shows how traffic citations and at-fault fender-benders can raise BMW 328i insurance prices for each different age group. The premium estimates are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
When to talk to an insurance agent
Some consumers just want to talk to a local agent and that can be a great decision Good agents can make sure you are properly covered and help you file claims. One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is you can get lower rates and still have an agent to talk to.
Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), your information gets sent to local insurance agents who will give you bids and help you find cheaper coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to do any legwork since price quotes are sent immediately to you. If for some reason you want to quote rates from a specific car insurance provider, you can always go to their quote page and fill out their quote form.
Choosing an company needs to be determined by more than just the price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- What company do they have the most business with?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Is the coverage adequate for your vehicle?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- Does the agent help file claims?
What is the best car insurance coverage?
When quoting and choosing coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Your situation is unique.
Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?
- Who sells insurance for high-risk drivers?
- What is the ISO rating for a BMW 328i?
- When should I drop full coverage on my BMW 328i?
- Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
- Are rental cars covered under my policy?
- How much will a speeding ticket raise my rates?
- Can I rent a car in Mexico?
- Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.
How Insurance Providers Determine BMW 328i Insurance Prices
Many different elements are used in the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some are obvious like a motor vehicle report, but others are more obscure like your continuous coverage or how financially stable you are. A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing the factors that are used to determine your policy premiums. When you understand what determines premiums, this allows you to make good choices that could result in lower premium levels.
Listed below are some of the most rate-impacting factors used by companies to determine your prices.
High credit saves on car insurance – Having a bad credit score will be a significant factor in determining what you pay. Drivers with very high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower ratings. If your credit is lower than you’d like, you could pay less to insure your BMW 328i if you clean up your credit.
Better car insurance rates on vehicles with better crash test results – Cars with high safety ratings can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims which can mean better rates for you.
The type of car you drive affects your premiums – The performance level of the car, truck or SUV you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in how high your rates are. Small economy passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
The following chart uses these assumptions: married male driver age 50, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It compares BMW 328i car insurance rates compared to other models of vehicles that have a range of performances.
Rates are affected by your address – Residing in less populated areas is a good thing when talking about car insurance. People who live in big cities regularly have traffic congestion and higher rates of accident claims. Lower population means less chance of accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates.
Driver age impacts prices – Older drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents, and get fewer tickets. Teen drivers are statistically proven to be inattentive when behind the wheel so car insurance rates are higher.
The chart below uses these assumptions: single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Car insurance does more than just repair your car
Despite the high cost, car insurance serves several important purposes.
First, most states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy specific minimum amounts of liability insurance 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 BMW 328i has a loan, most banks will make it a condition of the loan that you have full coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you let the policy lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your BMW at an extremely high rate and require you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
Third, car insurance protects not only your BMW but also your assets. Insurance will pay for most medical and hospital costs for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay to defend you 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 pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of insuring your car are without a doubt worth the cost, especially for larger claims. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver is currently overpaying as much as $800 each year so compare rate quotes every year to ensure rates are inline.
Cheaper car insurance rates are possible
We’ve covered some good ideas how to shop for BMW 328i insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from some of the lesser-known companies.
Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like being labeled a high risk driver, questionable increases in premium, delays in responding to claim requests and an unsatisfactory settlement offer. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be less work than you think.
While you’re price shopping online, you should never buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price.
Additional information is available below:
- Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
- A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
- Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)