Affordable Quotes for Saturn VUE Insurance in Oakland

If you want to save money, the best way to get affordable auto insurance rates is to compare prices annually from providers that insure vehicles in Oakland.

1. Take a little time to learn about policy coverages and the measures you can take to keep rates low. Many factors that cause high rates like your driving record and a negative credit history can be eliminated by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. This article gives information to help reduce premium rates and earn larger discounts.
2. Compare price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide prices from multiple insurance companies.
3. Compare the new quotes to your current policy premium to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save some money and switch companies, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
4. Provide proper notification to your current company of your decision to cancel your existing policy and submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to the new insurer. When you receive it, keep your new certificate of insurance with your registration paperwork.

A good tip to remember is to try to compare the same amount of coverage on each quote and and to get prices from as many auto insurance providers as possible. This ensures a level playing field and a complete price analysis.

It’s safe to assume that auto insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. Insureds who shop around for the cheapest price will most likely switch car insurance companies because there is a great chance of finding a lower rate. Remarkably, a study showed that drivers who regularly compared rates saved an average of $865 annually compared to other drivers who never shopped around.

If finding the most affordable car insurance is why you’re reading this, understanding how to find and compare insurance rates can save money and time.

Why Informed Drivers Pay Less for Saturn VUE Insurance

Many different elements are considered when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are obvious like a motor vehicle report, but some are less apparent such as your credit history or your vehicle rating.

• Incidental coverages that aren’t used – There are a lot of add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t diligent. Add-on coverages like coverage for rental cars, death and dismemberment, and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. They may sound like good ideas when you first buy your policy, but if they’re wasting money remove them from your policy.
• Discounts for married couples – Walking down the aisle may earn you lower rates when buying auto insurance. It means you’re more mature than a single person and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
• Be proud to be claim-free – Companies in California give most affordable rates to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Your car insurance is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
• Your car’s features help determine premiums – Choosing to buy a car that has a built-in theft deterrent system can save you some money. Theft prevention devices like OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems all help stop your car from being stolen.
• The higher your credit history the lower your premiums – Having a bad credit history is likely to be a major factor in your rate calculation. People with excellent credit scores tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with bad credit. Therefore, if your credit score is not that good, you could save money insuring your Saturn VUE by repairing your credit.
• High physical damage deductibles equal low rates – Comp and collision deductibles tell how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if a covered claim is submitted. Protection for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some coverage claims could be colliding with a stationary object, damage caused by hail, or theft of your vehicle. The larger the amount you have to pay, the better rate you will receive.

• High performance equals high prices – The make and model of the vehicle you drive makes a huge difference in the rate you pay. Low performance passenger models usually have the lowest premiums, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.

  The following chart is based on a single female driver age 30, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Saturn VUE rates compared to other models that have different performance risks.

• Gender as a rate factor – The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. It does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Males and females cause accidents in similar numbers, but men have costlier accidents. Not only are claims higher, but men get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 generally have the highest accident percentage so it costs more to insure them.

  The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Saturn VUE insurance premiums for male and female drivers. The price estimates are based on no claims, a clean driving record, full coverage, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no other discounts are factored in.

Cheapest Saturn VUE insurance quotes in Oakland

The providers in the list below can provide price comparisons in Oakland, CA. In order to find the best cheap car insurance in Oakland, we suggest you click on several of them to get the best price comparison.

Saturn VUE coverage statistics

The table below showcases estimates of insurance policy prices for Saturn VUE models. Having a better idea how insurance quotes are figured can be useful when making decisions when choosing a new policy provider.

Table data represents single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, and claim-free. Prices do not factor in specific location information which can revise coverage prices considerably.

An analysis of deductible level

The hardest decision when buying coverage is at what level do you set your deductibles. The comparison tables below outline the premium difference of buying low and high physical damage coverage deductibles. The first table uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second price table uses a $1,000 deductible.

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-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free. Price estimates do not factor in garaging location in Oakland which can influence auto insurance rates greatly.

We can estimate from the data above that using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $32 more each month or $384 a year across all Saturn VUE models than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average at least 23 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you choose a higher deductible.

One thing to be aware of is that raising deductibles means you pay more out-of-pocket when you have a claim. You should have some available funds in the event you need to pay the higher deductible.

The example below highlights how deductible selection and can change Saturn VUE premium costs for each different age group. The costs are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Three main reasons to buy car insurance

Even though it can be expensive, maintaining insurance may be required for several reasons.

• The majority of states have mandatory insurance requirements which means state laws require a minimum amount of liability in order to license the 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 have a lien on your VUE, almost every bank will make it a condition of the loan that you buy full coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank may insure your Saturn for a lot more money and require you to fork over for the much more expensive policy.
• Car insurance preserves both your assets and your Saturn. It also can pay for medical expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay to defend you if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If you have damage to your Saturn as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.

The benefits of having insurance are definitely more than the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. The average driver in California is wasting up to $810 a year so it’s important to compare rates every year to ensure rates are inline.

Insurance policy discounts for Saturn VUE insurance in Oakland

Car insurance companies don’t always publicize every discount available in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the more common in addition to some of the lesser obvious discounts that you may qualify for.

• Life Insurance Discount – Not every insurance company offers life insurance, but if they do you may earn a discounted premium rate on car insurance if you buy a life policy as well.
• Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner can get you a discount because it demonstrates responsibility.
• Discount for Multiple Policies – When you combine your home and auto insurance and insure them with the same company they may give you a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
• Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save up to 15% on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
• College Student Discount – Children who attend college more than 100 miles from Oakland and leave their car at home could qualify for this discount.
• Student Discount for Driver Training – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers complete a driver education course in school.
• No Charge for an Accident – This isn’t a discount exactly, but a handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
• Senior Citizen Discount – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down on your Saturn can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.

Discounts lower rates, but most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So even though you would think all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky. But all discounts should definitely cut the premium cost.

The chart below compares Saturn VUE insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The information is based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, safe-driver, marriage, multi-car, claim-free, and multi-policy discounts applied.

A few of the larger companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts are detailed below.

• Farm Bureau offers discounts including 55 and retired, multi-vehicle, driver training, multi-policy, safe driver, good student, and youthful driver.
• Liberty Mutual may offer discounts for multi-policy, teen driver discount, preferred payment discount, hybrid vehicle, new move discount, and good student.
• State Farm includes discounts for safe vehicle, passive restraint, defensive driving training, accident-free, good student, and good driver.
• Auto-Owners Insurance may include discounts for multiple vehicles, anti-lock brakes, teen driver, multi-policy, safe vehicle, paperless, and mature driver.
• GEICO may have discounts that include good student, military active duty, air bags, anti-lock brakes, and federal employee.
• SAFECO offers premium reductions for accident prevention training, anti-theft, safe driver, teen safety rewards, bundle discounts, drive less, and teen safe driver.

Double check with each company or agent the best way to save money. Discounts might not be offered everywhere. To see a list of providers that offer discounts in Oakland, click this link.

Auto insurance agents can find coverage gaps

Certain consumers just want to talk to an insurance agent and that can be a great decision Experienced insurance agents can help you build your policy and will help you if you have claims. A nice benefit of comparing auto insurance online is you can get lower rates and also buy local. And providing support for neighborhood agents is definitely important in Oakland.

After completing this quick form, the quote information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Oakland who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to contact an agency because quoted prices will be sent to you instantly. If for some reason you want to get a comparison quote from a particular provider, you can always jump over to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.

If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, you must know there are a couple different types of agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Oakland are considered either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Either type can sell and service auto insurance coverage, but it’s good to learn how they differ since it may influence your agent selection.

Independent Agents

Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles through many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If premiums increase, an independent agent can move your coverage which requires no work on your part.

When comparing auto insurance rates, it’s recommended you compare quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison. Many write coverage with less well-known companies which can save you money.

The following are Oakland independent insurance agents that can give you free auto insurance rate quotes.

• Western-Southern Life Insurance Co
  80 Swan Way # 102 – Oakland, CA 94621 – (510) 877-4119 – View Map
• Film Casualty Insurance Agency
  3246 Ettie St #23 – Oakland, CA 94608 – (619) 578-3048 – View Map
• JCB Insurance Services
  6427 Westover Dr – Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 336-3490 – View Map

More insurance agents

Exclusive Insurance Agents

These type of agents can only provide one company’s prices such as Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and AAA. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide other company’s prices so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agents are usually well trained on their company’s products and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Consumers often choose to use an exclusive agent partially due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Below is a short list of exclusive agencies in Oakland that can give you comparison quotes.

• Farmers Insurance – Jimmie Oliver
  1800 55th Ave – Oakland, CA 94621 – (510) 517-7663 – View Map
• Farmers Insurance: Patrick Siu
  993 Jackson St – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 350-7829 – View Map
• State Farm Insurance – Oakland – Mat Dahms Agency
  4400 Keller Ave #260 – Oakland, CA 94605 – (510) 636-1440 – View Map

More insurance agents

Picking the best car insurance agent should include more criteria than just a cheap price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
• How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
• Are they in the agency full-time?
• Does the company use OEM repair parts?
• Are they giving you every discount you deserve?

If you get satisfactory answers to your questions and a good coverage price, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that can be trusted to service your policy.

Which car insurance company is best in Oakland?

Ending up with the best insurance company can be difficult considering how many choices there are in California. The rank data shown below may help you pick which auto insurers to look at comparing price quotes from.

Top 10 Oakland Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service

1. AAA of Southern California
2. GEICO
3. State Farm
4. The Hartford
5. Mercury Insurance
6. The General
7. Progressive
8. Allstate
9. AAA Insurance
10. American Family

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

Budget-conscious Saturn VUE insurance can be bought on the web in addition to many Oakland insurance agents, so you need to shop Oakland car insurance with both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not have the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional carriers work with independent agents.

Consumers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including policy non-renewal, high rates after DUI convictions, not issuing a premium refund and denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching insurance companies can be easier than you think.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, someone dropped collision coverage only to find out that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, but do not skimp to save money.

Even more information can be read in these articles:

• Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Who Has Affordable Oakland Car Insurance for a Toyota Corolla? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Oakland Auto Insurance Quotes for Ride Shares? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Used Cars in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Institute)
• What is Full Coverage? (Allstate)