Save on GMC Sierra 3500HD Insurance in Oakland

If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to find the cheapest price for GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance is to compare prices at least once a year from providers that sell auto insurance in Oakland.

First, get a basic knowledge of the coverage provided by your policy and the steps you can take to lower rates. Many rating factors that cause rate increases such as traffic citations, accidents, and poor credit history can be controlled by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. This article provides additional tips to find cheap rates and get additional discounts that may be available.

Second, compare price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can provide rates from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can quote rates from multiple sources.

Third, compare the quotes to your current policy premium to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find better rates, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.

An important bit of advice to remember is to use identical deductibles and limits on every quote and and to analyze as many carriers as you can. Doing this ensures an apples-to-apples comparison and many rates to choose from.

It’s an obvious assumption that auto insurance companies don’t want you shop around. People who shop around once a year are inclined to move their business because there is a great chance of finding a more affordable policy premium. A recent car insurance study discovered that drivers who made a habit of comparing rate quotes saved on average $3,400 over four years as compared to drivers who never shopped for cheaper rates.

If finding the lowest rates on insurance in Oakland is your ultimate goal, then having some insight into how to find companies and compare cheaper coverage can make shopping around easier.

Low Cost companies for GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance in California

The auto insurance companies shown below offer comparison quotes in Oakland, CA. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you visit several of them to get the best price comparison.

Rates and data analysis

The table displayed next highlights estimates of insurance prices for GMC Sierra 3500HD models. Knowing how auto insurance prices are figured helps drivers make informed coverage decisions.

Data variables include single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Rate quotes do not factor in your specific Oakland location which can modify premium rates greatly.

Policy deductibles

When buying insurance, a common question is which deductibles should you choose. The figures shown below can help illustrate the rate differences of buying low and high physical damage deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second set of prices uses a $500 deductible.

Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in garaging location in Oakland which can increase or decrease premiums considerably.

Based on the figures above, using a $250 deductible costs roughly $20 more each month or $240 every year than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $250 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you go more than 13 months between claims, you would probably be better off if you decide on a higher deductible.

Cautious Oakland drivers save money

The information below demonstrates how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents can raise GMC Sierra 3500HD premium costs for each different age group. The data assumes a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Price comparison of only insuring for liability

The diagram below shows the comparison of GMC Sierra 3500HD car insurance costs when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The costs are based on no claims, a clean driving record, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?

There is no definitive formula that is best for determining when to drop full coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than around 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.

For example, let’s say your GMC Sierra 3500HD settlement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would receive is $4,000 after paying your policy deductible. If you are paying more than $400 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

There are a few cases where removing full coverage is not recommended. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.

Smart Consumers Can Cut Insurance Costs

A large part of saving on auto insurance is knowing some of the factors that aid in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. If you have a feel for what determines base rates, this enables you to make decisions that may reward you with big savings. Lots of factors are used in the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. Some of the criteria are obvious like an MVR report, but some are more obscure such as your credit history and annual miles driven.

• Your credit score is important – Your credit rating can be an important factor in determining what you pay. Insureds with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims as compared to drivers with bad credit. If your credit history can be improved, you may save money insuring your GMC Sierra 3500HD by improving your credit score.
• Your career may increase rates – Jobs such as military personnel, airline pilots, and financial analysts usually pay the highest rates in part from intense work-related stress and long work hours. Conversely, careers like scientists, historians and homemakers get better rates.

• Men are more aggressive – Statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women cause at-fault accidents in similar percentages, but males tend to have more serious accidents. Men also statistically have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Male teenagers are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.

  The diagram below illustrates the comparison of GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance premiums for male and female drivers. The information is based on no claims or driving violations, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.

• More than one policy can earn a discount – Some insurance companies provide lower prices to policyholders who buy several policies from them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you already get this discount, consumers should still compare other Oakland Sierra 3500HD insurance rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. Drivers may still find lower rates by insuring with multiple companies.
• Do you know your comp and collision deductibles? – Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are colliding with a stationary object, damage caused by hail, and damage from wind. The more of the claim you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
• Never let your policy lapse – Not having insurance can get you a ticket and auto insurance companies will penalize you for letting your insurance expire. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage may earn you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license. You may need to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the California motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.

Oakland insurance discounts for a GMC Sierra 3500HD

Some insurers do not advertise every discount available very clearly, so the next list breaks down a few of the more well known and also the lesser-known ways to save on insurance.

• Paperwork-free – Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
• Savings for New Vehicles – Putting coverage on a new Sierra 3500HD can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Theft Prevention System – Cars and trucks equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10% off your Oakland car insurance quote.
• Good Driver Discounts – Safe drivers can save up to 40% or more on their Oakland car insurance quote compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
• Onboard Data Collection – Insureds who allow driving data collection to study where and when they drive by installing a telematics device like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot could save a few bucks if they show good driving skills.
• Driver Training Discounts – Successfully completing a defensive driving course could earn you a small percentage discount and also improve your driving technique.
• Student Discount for Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.
• Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of more than 20%.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles on your GMC may enable drivers to earn substantially lower premium rates.
• Save over 55 – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens are able to get a small decrease in premiums.

Policy discounts save money, but most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, nobody gets a free ride.

The information below visualizes the comparison of GMC Sierra 3500HD auto insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The premium estimates are based on a male driver, no accidents, no driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, marriage, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-car, and homeowner discounts applied.

To find insurers who offer free GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance quotes in California, click here to view.

Can’t I compare rate quotes from local Oakland car insurance agents?

A small number of people prefer to talk to a local agent and doing so can bring peace of mind Good insurance agents can answer important questions and give you someone to call. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that drivers can get better rates and still have a local agent. Buying from and supporting neighborhood insurance agencies is especially important in Oakland.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), your information is sent to insurance agents in Oakland that can give you free Oakland car insurance quotes to get your business. You won’t even need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to you directly. If you need to compare prices from a specific company, you would need to navigate to their website and submit a quote form there.

The type of car insurance agent you choose is important

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, it’s important to understand the types of agencies and how they are distinctly different. Agents in Oakland are considered either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Both types of agents can provide car insurance policies, but it’s worth mentioning the difference in how they write coverage because it may have an impact on which agent you choose.

Independent Agents

Agents of this type are not required to write business for one company so they have the ability to put coverage with a variety of different insurance companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If you want to switch companies, they can switch companies in-house and you don’t have to do anything.

When comparing car insurance rates, we recommend you get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices. Many independent agencies also insure through companies that do not advertise much which can be an advantage.

Featured below are Oakland independent insurance agencies that can possibly get you cheap rate quotes.

• Greater Metrowest Insurance Agency
  Oakland, CA 94612 – Oakland, CA 94612 – (510) 444-1404 – View Map
• On My Way Insurance
  320 10th St – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 893-3298 – View Map
• Links Insurance Services
  1155 3rd St # 220 – Oakland, CA 94607 – (925) 361-5185 – View Map

View more Oakland agents

Exclusive Car Insurance Agencies

Exclusive agents can only place business with one company like American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. Exclusive agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so they really need to provide good service. They receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Some consumers prefer to buy from exclusive agents primarily because of loyalty to the company rather than having low rates.

Shown below is a short list of exclusive agents in Oakland willing to provide rate quotes.

• State Farm Insurance – Oakland – Mat Dahms Agency
  4400 Keller Ave #260 – Oakland, CA 94605 – (510) 636-1440 – View Map
• Jose Cano – State Farm Insurance Agent
  3301 E 12th St Suite 113 – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 533-8107 – View Map
• Allstate Insurance: Francis H. Lan
  900 Alice St Ste 128 – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 835-8581 – View Map

View more Oakland agents

Deciding on an car insurance agent should depend on more than just the price. Agents should be asked these questions:

• How often do they review policy coverages?
• If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
• Is the agency active in community causes in Oakland?
• What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
• What companies can they write with?

When should I discuss my situation with an agent?

When it comes to proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different.

These are some specific questions might help in determining whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.

• What is the difference between personal and commercial auto insurance policies?
• How can I get my company to pay me more for my totaled car?
• Do I pay less for low miles?
• Who does medical payments coverage extend to?
• Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
• Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
• Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
• Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
• When should I have rental car coverage?
• Do I need roadside assistance coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Affordable coverage is out there

Drivers switch companies for a number of reasons such as lack of trust in their agent, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, denial of a claim and policy cancellation. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new company is not as hard as you think.

In this article, we presented a lot of ways to reduce GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance car insurance rates online in Oakland. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding low cost Oakland car insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the best car insurance rates are with a lesser-known regional company.

Budget-conscious GMC Sierra 3500HD insurance can be found both online as well as from insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these small insurance companies prefer to sell through independent insurance agents.

More detailed insurance information is located in these articles:

• Auto Insurance Facts and Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Who Has Cheap Oakland Auto Insurance for Drivers with Bad Credit? (FAQ)
• How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for a Nissan Altima in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Should I Purchase an Umbrella Liability Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Winter Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
• Drunk Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)