It’s an obvious assumption that auto insurance companies don’t want you quoting rates from other companies. People who get price quotes annually are likely to switch insurance companies because they stand a good chance of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. A recent survey discovered that drivers who compared rates regularly saved on average $70 a month as compared to drivers who never shopped around for better prices.
If finding low prices for auto insurance in Oakland is the reason for your visit, understanding how to get free comparison quotes and analyze insurance can make it easier to shop your coverage around.
The most effective way to get the cheapest car insurance rates in Oakland is to regularly compare prices from providers who sell auto insurance in California. Rate comparisons can be done by following these guidelines.
First, try to understand the coverage provided by your policy and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that cause rate increases like accidents, traffic tickets, and poor credit history can be rectified by paying attention to minor details. This article provides more information to get low prices and find discounts that may have been missed.
Second, request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can provide price quotes from multiple sources. Find an Oakland insurance agent
Third, compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find better rates, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
Fourth, tell your current company to cancel your current coverage and submit payment and a completed application to your new insurance company. Immediately upon receiving it, place your new proof of insurance paperwork with your registration paperwork.
A key point to remember is that you use identical coverages on every quote request and and to get price estimates from every company you can. This enables a level playing field and a complete rate analysis.
Keep in mind that having more price comparisons increases your odds of finding the best rates.
The companies in the list below can provide price comparisons in California. To get cheaper car insurance in California, we suggest you compare several of them in order to find the most affordable rates.
Save a ton on Chevy Malibu insurance in Oakland with these discounts
Some insurance providers don’t necessarily list all possible discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and that can save you a little bit as well.
- Cautious Driver Discount – Accident-free drivers can pay as much as 50% less than their less cautious counterparts.
- Multiple Cars – Insuring more than one vehicle on a single policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- First Accident Forgiveness – Not really a discount, but some companies like State Farm and Progressive permit an accident without raising rates as long as you don’t have any claims for a specific time period.
- Memberships – Affiliation with specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations is a good way to get lower rates on your next renewal.
- College Student Discount – Youth drivers who live away from home to go to college and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
- Military Deployment Discount – Being on active duty in the military could trigger a small discount.
- No Accidents – Insureds with no claims or accidents pay less in comparison with drivers who are more careless.
- Sign Online – A handful of companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy on your computer.
Just know that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way. Any amount of discount will cut your policy premium.
The illustration below shows the comparison of Chevy Malibu insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the premium. The costs are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, multi-policy, marriage, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-car discounts applied.
To see a list of providers who offer cheap Chevy Malibu insurance quotes in Oakland in Oakland, follow this link.
Car insurance analysis for a Chevy Malibu
The table displayed below covers estimates of insurance rates for Chevy Malibu models. Learning as much as possible about how rate quotes are figured can assist in making decisions on which coverage to buy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Malibu LS | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
Malibu Hybrid | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
Malibu LT | $238 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,200 | $100 |
Malibu LTZ | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
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Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and homeowner. Information does not factor in specific location which can affect insurance rates considerably.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
When shopping for car insurance, a common question is the level to set your comp and collision deductibles. The following tables show the differences in premium rates of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first data set uses a $250 deductible and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Malibu LS | $342 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,543 | $129 |
Malibu Hybrid | $342 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,543 | $129 |
Malibu LT | $386 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,587 | $132 |
Malibu LTZ | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Malibu LS | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
Malibu Hybrid | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
Malibu LT | $238 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,200 | $100 |
Malibu LTZ | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in specific location information which can modify auto insurance rates considerably.
Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $250 deductible would cost the average driver about $33 more each month or $396 each year averaged for all Malibu models than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally go at least 23 months between claims, you would probably save some money by selecting a higher deductible.
How to determine when to raise your deductibles
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $133 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $100 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $33 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $33 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 23 months |
The chart below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can influence Chevy Malibu insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The data assumes a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Can’t I get rate quotes from local Oakland auto insurance agents?
Many people prefer to have an agent’s advice and that is not a bad decision One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is you may find the best rates and still buy from a local agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, the quote information is emailed to companies in Oakland that provide free Oakland car insurance quotes to get your business. You won’t even need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to you. You can get cheaper auto insurance rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If for some reason you want to get a rate quote from a specific insurance company, don’t hesitate to go to their quote page and complete a quote there.
Selecting an insurer shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price quote. The following questions are important to ask.
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
- Does the company have a local claim office in Oakland?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
- How often do they review coverages?
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
Listed below are Oakland auto insurance companies that may be able to provide price quote information for Chevy Malibu insurance in Oakland.
Allstate Insurance: Liz Drennan
4170 Piedmont Ave c – Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 594-2090 – View Map
Judy Chambers – State Farm Insurance Agent
1305 Franklin St #400 – Oakland, CA 94612 – (510) 832-2195 – View Map
Cook Disharoon and Greathouse Insurance Brokers
1942 Embarcadero – Oakland, CA 94606 – (510) 437-1900 – View Map
Maria Wong – State Farm Insurance Agent
1000 Broadway #270 – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 834-3634 – View Map
When should I discuss my situation with an agent?
When quoting and comparing your policy for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your insurance should be unique as well.
Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether your personal situation could use an agent’s help.
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- I have a DUI can I still get coverage?
- Who sells insurance for high-risk drivers?
- Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
- Do I have ACV or replacement cost coverage?
- What is PIP insurance?
- What states are considered no-fault?
- Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in California?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Why Your Insurance Rates might be higher
Many things are part of the equation when pricing auto insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious such as traffic violations, although some other factors are less obvious such as your marital status or how financially stable you are.
The items below are a few of the things used by companies to determine premiums.
- Bundle policies and save – Lots of insurance companies allow better rates for people that have more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you qualify for this discount already, drivers will still want to shop around to help guarantee you have the best rates.
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Men pay more for insurance – The statistics show females are less aggressive when driving. This data doesn’t prove that females are better at driving than males. Males and females are responsible for accidents at a similar rate, but the male of the species have accidents that have higher claims. They also get cited for more serious violations such as reckless driving. Teenage male drivers generally have the highest accident percentage so they pay the highest premiums.
The illustration below shows the difference between Chevy Malibu insurance rates for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.
- Reserve policy claims for larger damages – If you are a frequent claim filer, you should expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies in California award better rates to policyholders who do not file claims often. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for claims that you cannot pay yourself.
- Get cheaper prices after the wedding – Walking down the aisle helps lower the price on your policy. It means you’re more responsible and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
- Extra policy coverages push up premiums – Insurance companies have many extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your insurance policy. Coverage for things like rental car coverage, accidental death, and motor club memberships are probably not needed. They may sound like good ideas when buying your policy, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
- Coverage lapses lead to higher rates – Having an insurance coverage lapse can be a guaranteed way to trigger a rate increase. Not only will rates go up, being ticketed for driving with no insurance could result in fines or a revoked license.
- Better rates on cars with good safety ratings – Vehicles that have high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and fewer injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and thus lower rates.
- Big city or small town – Living in a rural area has it’s advantages when buying insurance. People who live in big cities regularly have more traffic problems and longer commutes to work. Lower population means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
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Insurance loss data for Chevy Malibu vehicles – Insurance companies use past loss statistics for each vehicle when setting rates for each model. Models that statistically have increased claim numbers or amounts will have higher rates for specific coverages. The table below outlines the historical insurance loss data for Chevy Malibu vehicles.
For each coverage type, the claim probability for all vehicles, as a total average, is equal to 100. Percentage values below 100 mean the vehicle has better than average losses, while numbers that are greater than 100 indicate more frequent losses or statistically larger losses.
Insurance Loss Ratings for Chevrolet Malibu Vehicles Make and Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Chevrolet Malibu 94 100 109 139 145 120 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEData Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Insuring your Chevy vehicle just makes sense
Even though Oakland Malibu insurance rates can get expensive, insuring your vehicle is a good idea for several reasons.
- Just about all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means the state requires a specific minimum amount of liability coverage if you want to drive legally. 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 you took out a loan on your vehicle, more than likely the lender will make it mandatory that you buy insurance to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you let the policy lapse, the lender will be forced to insure your Chevy at an extremely high rate and force you to pay for the much more expensive policy.
- Insurance safeguards both your car and your assets. It also can pay for medical transport and hospital expenses that are the result of an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of buying enough insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially for larger claims. But the average driver in California is overpaying over $825 a year so it’s recommended you shop around once a year at a minimum to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Best auto insurance company in California
Insuring your vehicle with a highly-rated auto insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many companies sell insurance in California. The company information displayed below could help you select which coverage providers you want to consider comparing rates with.
Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USAA | 98 | 100 | 100 | 94% | A++ | 98.6 |
American Family | 98 | 89 | 100 | 86% | A | 95.4 |
AAA of Southern California | 91 | 94 | 97 | 92% | A+ | 94.1 |
State Farm | 88 | 93 | 96 | 90% | A++ | 92.4 |
The Hartford | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89% | A+ | 91.7 |
AAA Insurance | 88 | 89 | 95 | 91% | A | 91.2 |
GEICO | 84 | 93 | 93 | 89% | A++ | 90.3 |
The General | 89 | 91 | 89 | 88% | A- | 90 |
Titan Insurance | 90 | 87 | 91 | 95% | A+ | 89.6 |
Progressive | 84 | 91 | 93 | 87% | A+ | 89.5 |
Mercury Insurance | 88 | 91 | 90 | 85% | A+ | 89.4 |
Allstate | 85 | 90 | 92 | 88% | A+ | 89.3 |
Nationwide | 87 | 88 | 84 | 90% | A+ | 88.7 |
Liberty Mutual | 84 | 87 | 93 | 88% | A | 88.5 |
21st Century | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88% | A | 86.7 |
Esurance | 85 | 80 | 95 | 87% | A+ | 85.9 |
Safeco | 85 | 85 | 85 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
Travelers | 80 | 87 | 87 | 83% | A++ | 85.2 |
Farmers Insurance | 78 | 87 | 88 | 79% | A | 84.3 |
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Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
Smart shoppers get results
Lower-priced car insurance in Oakland is possible both online as well as from independent agents in Oakland, and you should compare rates from both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who don’t offer rate quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agents.
We covered quite a bit of information on how to compare Chevy Malibu insurance premium rates in Oakland. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the lowest priced car insurance comes from a small mutual company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates compared to the large companies like State Farm and Allstate.
For more information, feel free to browse the following helpful articles:
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)
- Who Has Cheap Oakland Car Insurance for Single Moms? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Oakland Car Insurance Quotes for Lyft Drivers? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Teenagers in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Front crash protection reduces rear-end crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)