A recent NerdWallet.com study revealed that 70% of consumers have purchased from the same company for at least the last four years, and nearly half have never compared quotes from other companies. Many drivers in California could save roughly $500 each year just by getting comparison quotes, but most just don’t grasp how much they could save if they switched.
If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to find affordable Chevy Cobalt insurance is to start comparing rates regularly from different companies in Oakland. You can shop around by following these guidelines.
First, get a basic knowledge of what coverages are included in your policy and the modifications you can make to keep rates low. Many policy risk factors that cause rate increases like at-fault accidents and poor credit can be remedied by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
Second, compare prices from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agencies can give you price quotes from multiple insurance companies. View companies
Third, compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find better rates and make a switch, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Fourth, provide notification to your current agent or company of your intent to cancel your current policy. Submit the required down payment along with the signed application to your new agent or company. As soon as coverage is bound, place the new certificate verifying proof of insurance in an accessible location in your vehicle.
One important bit of advice is to try to compare similar coverage information on each quote and and to get price quotes from as many carriers as you can. This guarantees an accurate price comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
Insurance policy discounts you can’t miss
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help offset the cost. Most are applied at the time you complete a quote, but some must be asked for in order for you to get them.
- Accident Waiver – Not necessarily a discount, but companies like Allstate, Progressive, and GEICO will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you are claim-free prior to the accident.
- Multiple Cars – Having multiple vehicles on the same insurance policy can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better insurance rates.
- Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% off the medical payments premium.
- Discounts for Good Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accident claims.
Don’t be shocked that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like you could get a free insurance policy, companies don’t profit that way. But all discounts will cut your policy cost.
The information below shows the comparison of Chevy Cobalt car insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, no claims or violations, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-car, claim-free, and safe-driver discounts applied.
Larger insurance companies and the discounts they provide are detailed below.
- Progressive has discounts for homeowner, online signing, good student, multi-policy, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, and online quote discount.
- GEICO may offer discounts for seat belt use, driver training, defensive driver, military active duty, emergency military deployment, federal employee, and anti-lock brakes.
- State Farm may have discounts that include multiple autos, anti-theft, good student, defensive driving training, good driver, Drive Safe & Save, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- Esurance may include discounts for good driver, claim free, online quote, DriveSense, paid-in-full, and Pac-12 alumni.
- The Hartford includes discounts for good student, bundle, air bag, anti-theft, and vehicle fuel type.
When getting a coverage quote, ask all companies you are considering how many discounts you can get. Some discounts may not apply in every state. To view providers that offer some of these discounts in California, click this link.
The companies in the list below provide free rate quotes in California. To get the best cheap auto insurance in Oakland, CA, we recommend you click on several of them to find the most competitive car insurance rates.
Rates and statistics
The coverage information displayed next showcases a range of insurance prices for Chevy Cobalt models. Being more informed about how car insurance premiums are figured is important for making decisions on the best policy to buy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt LS 4-Dr Sedan | $270 | $624 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,592 | $133 |
| Cobalt XFE 4-Dr Sedan | $270 | $624 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,592 | $133 |
| Cobalt LS 2-Dr Coupe | $310 | $624 | $568 | $34 | $170 | $1,706 | $142 |
| Cobalt XFE 2-Dr Coupe | $310 | $624 | $568 | $34 | $170 | $1,706 | $142 |
| Cobalt LT 4-Dr Sedan | $310 | $624 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,632 | $136 |
| Cobalt LT 2-Dr Coupe | $350 | $624 | $568 | $34 | $170 | $1,746 | $146 |
| Cobalt SS Turbo 2-Dr Coupe | $390 | $812 | $568 | $34 | $170 | $1,974 | $165 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Cost estimates assume married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Information does not factor in specific location which can impact coverage rates significantly.
Raise deductibles and save
One of the hardest decisions when shopping for car insurance is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The figures shown below may help to conceptualize how much more rates are when you choose different physical damage coverage deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 deductible and the second set of rates uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt LS 4-Dr Sedan | $298 | $678 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,681 | $140 |
| Cobalt XFE 4-Dr Sedan | $298 | $678 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,681 | $140 |
| Cobalt LS 2-Dr Coupe | $342 | $678 | $552 | $32 | $166 | $1,795 | $150 |
| Cobalt XFE 2-Dr Coupe | $342 | $678 | $552 | $32 | $166 | $1,795 | $150 |
| Cobalt LT 4-Dr Sedan | $342 | $678 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,725 | $144 |
| Cobalt LT 2-Dr Coupe | $386 | $678 | $552 | $32 | $166 | $1,839 | $153 |
| Cobalt SS Turbo 2-Dr Coupe | $430 | $882 | $552 | $32 | $166 | $2,087 | $174 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt LS 4-Dr Sedan | $184 | $426 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,290 | $108 |
| Cobalt XFE 4-Dr Sedan | $184 | $426 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,290 | $108 |
| Cobalt LS 2-Dr Coupe | $210 | $426 | $552 | $32 | $166 | $1,386 | $116 |
| Cobalt XFE 2-Dr Coupe | $210 | $426 | $552 | $32 | $166 | $1,386 | $116 |
| Cobalt LT 4-Dr Sedan | $210 | $426 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,316 | $110 |
| Cobalt LT 2-Dr Coupe | $238 | $426 | $552 | $32 | $166 | $1,414 | $118 |
| Cobalt SS Turbo 2-Dr Coupe | $266 | $556 | $552 | $32 | $166 | $1,572 | $131 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in specific zip code location which can lower or raise premium rates substantially.
Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible costs approximately $35 more each month or $420 for a full year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to go at least 21 months between claims, you would save more money by going with a higher deductible.
Chevrolet Cobalt insurance rates by gender
The information below shows the comparison of Chevy Cobalt annual premium costs for male and female drivers. The price estimates are based on no violations or accidents, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.
Full coverage rates vs. liability-only in Oakland
The example below visualizes the comparison of Chevy Cobalt insurance prices with and without physical damage coverage. The information is based on no claims or driving citations, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no other discounts are factored in.
Guidelines for dropping full coverage
There is no written rule of when to drop physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than around 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Chevy Cobalt claim settlement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would get paid by your company is $5,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying in excess of $500 a year for full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not a good plan. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage in place.
How do Insurers Determine Chevy Cobalt Insurance Rates?
It’s important that you understand a few of the rating criteria that aid in calculating your auto insurance rates. If you have some idea of what controls the rates you pay, this enables you to make decisions that can help you get cheaper rates.
Raising physical damage deductibles saves money – Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your Chevy from damage. Some coverage claims could be running into the backend of another car, flood damage, and damage from a fallen tree branch. Physical damage deductibles define how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The larger the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive.
Liability protection limits should be high – The liability section of your policy will provide protection if ever you are found liable for an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can cost a lot. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
How do annual miles impact premiums? – The higher the mileage driven annually the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. A lot of insurance companies calculate rates determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars that have low annual miles receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. It’s always a good idea to double check that your auto insurance policy states how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money. Incorrect rating for your Cobalt may be wasting your money.
Rates can drop if you have more than one policy – Some companies will award a discount to insureds who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. The amount of the discounts can be ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you already get this discount, it’s in your best interest to shop around to verify if the discount is saving money.
Get rate quotes but work with a local Oakland insurance agent
A lot of people just prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that is not a bad decision Good insurance agents are trained risk managers and give you someone to call. A nice benefit of comparing insurance online is the fact that drivers can get cheap insurance quotes but still work with a licensed agent. Buying insurance from local insurance agents is especially important in Oakland.
To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Oakland that provide free Oakland car insurance quotes for your coverage. There is no reason to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. If for some reason you want to get a rate quote from a specific insurance provider, you would need to visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.
When looking for a good insurance agency, it’s important to understand the different agency structures and how they work. Insurance agents can either be exclusive or independent. Either one can insure your vehicles, but it is a good idea to know the subtle differences since it could factor into which type of agent you select.
Independent Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents are normally appointed by many insurers so they can quote policies through many companies and find the cheapest insurance rates. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, we highly recommend that you include price quotes from at least one independent agent to have the best price comparison.
Featured below is a partial list of independent insurance agencies in Oakland who may provide free price quotes.
Western-Southern Life Insurance Co
80 Swan Way # 102 – Oakland, CA 94621 – (510) 877-4119 – View Map
Travel Insurance Agency
610 16th St #508 – Oakland, CA 94612 – (510) 452-3366 – View Map
Aviation Marine Insurance Services
5707 Redwood Rd – Oakland, CA 94619 – (510) 530-4415 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Exclusive insurance agents can only place business with one company such as Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive agents are well trained on what they offer which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.
Shown below are Oakland exclusive insurance agencies willing to provide comparison quotes.
Jessica Hebert – State Farm Insurance Agent
490 Grand Ave #210 – Oakland, CA 94610 – (510) 653-2900 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: Amy Cheok
180 2nd St #1 – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 338-3570 – View Map
Farmers Insurance – Margarita Rodriguez
3028 International Blvd – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 532-8426 – View Map
Selecting an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price quote. Any agent in Oakland should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- Will you work with the agent or an assistant?
- Is insurance their full-time profession?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
Car insurance is an important decision
Despite the high cost, insurance may be mandatory for several reasons.
- Most states have minimum liability requirements which means you are required to carry specific minimum amounts of liability insurance if you drive a vehicle. 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 bought your vehicle with a loan, almost all lenders will stipulate that you carry insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the lender will be forced to insure your Chevy at a much higher rate and require you to fork over the higher premium.
- Insurance protects your car and your assets. Insurance will also pay for medical bills that are the result of an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if you are sued as the result of an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance definitely exceed the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. On average, a vehicle owner in Oakland is overpaying more than $850 per year so it’s recommended you shop around once a year at a minimum to make sure the price is not too high.
How to find a good Oakland auto insurance company
Finding the right car insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many choices there are in California. The rank data in the lists below may help you choose which car insurance providers you want to consider comparing prices from.
Top 10 Oakland Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 95%
- USAA – 94%
- AAA of Southern California – 92%
- AAA Insurance – 91%
- Nationwide – 90%
- State Farm – 90%
- The Hartford – 89%
- GEICO – 89%
- The General – 88%
- 21st Century – 88%
Keep this in mind when shopping around
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, but do not skimp to save money.
Some insurance providers do not offer rate quotes online and usually these smaller providers only sell through local independent agencies. Lower-priced Chevy Cobalt insurance in Oakland is available both online and also from your neighborhood Oakland agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
More information is available at the links below
- Alcohol Impaired Driving FAQ (iihs.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Oakland Auto Insurance for a Honda Accord? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Toyota Tacoma in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Help Your Teen Be a Better Driver (State Farm)
- State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)
- Teen Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Insurance Losses by Make and Model (iihs.org)