Inconceivable but true, a large majority of auto insurance policyholders kept their coverage with the same auto insurance company for over three years, and nearly half have never quoted auto insurance rates at all. Many drivers in Oakland can save hundreds of dollars each year just by shopping around, but most undervalue the big savings they would realize if they changed companies.
If you want to save the most money, the best way to find affordable Kia Niro insurance in Oakland is to compare quotes once a year from insurance carriers in California. Price quotes can be compared by following these steps.
- First, try to learn a little about how your policy works and the measures you can take to drop your rates. Many risk factors that drive up the price like at-fault accidents, careless driving, and a negative credit score can be amended by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
- Second, request price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only give prices from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agencies can quote prices from multiple companies. View insurance agents
- Third, compare the new quotes to your current policy premium to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Fourth, provide adequate notice to your current company to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit a completed application and payment for the new coverage. Immediately upon receiving it, place the new proof of insurance certificate somewhere easily accessible.
One thing to point out is to use the same amount of coverage on each quote and and to look at as many different companies as possible. Doing this ensures the most accurate price comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
Finding a lower price on Kia Niro insurance can be relatively painless. You just need to take a couple of minutes comparing free Oakland auto insurance quotes online with multiple companies.
The companies in the list below have been selected to offer free rate quotes in California. To locate cheap auto insurance in Oakland, we recommend you get price quotes from several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Three reasons to not skimp on insurance
Even though Oakland Niro insurance rates can get expensive, insuring your vehicle is not optional due to several reasons.
First, just about all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific minimum amount of liability insurance 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.
Second, if your vehicle has a lienholder, it’s guaranteed your bank will require you to have comprehensive coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Kia at a much higher premium rate and force you to reimburse them a much higher amount than you were paying before.
Third, insurance protects not only your Kia Niro but also your assets. It will also cover many types of medical costs that are the result of an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your Kia gets damaged, your policy will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of insuring your Niro more than cancel out the cost, especially when you need to use it. Unknowingly, the average driver is overpaying more than $820 a year so it’s very important to do a rate comparison every year to save money.
Specific coverage details
Having a good grasp of insurance aids in choosing which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. Insurance terms can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses such as EMT expenses, nursing services and chiropractic care. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Liability auto insurance
Liability insurance protects you from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show values of 15/30/5 which stand for a limit of $15,000 per injured person, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for things like loss of income, bail bonds, repair costs for stationary objects, pain and suffering and attorney fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
The next chart demonstrates why low liability limits may not be adequate.
Collision coverage
Collision insurance covers damage to your Niro from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, crashing into a building, scraping a guard rail, rolling your car and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible on your Niro to bring the cost down.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/5 in California), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are set the same as your liability limits.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like hitting a deer, damage from a tornado or hurricane, damage from flooding and fire damage. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Persistent drivers can save
As you restructure your insurance plan, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your objective should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest cost, not the least amount of coverage.
We’ve covered a lot of techniques to shop for Kia Niro insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get premium rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding low cost Oakland auto insurance quotes. You may even find the best car insurance rates are with an unexpected company.
Cheaper insurance in Oakland is available online and from local insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
For more information, feel free to visit the articles below:
- A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
- Who Has the Cheapest Oakland Car Insurance Rates for Retired Military? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Oakland Auto Insurance for Drivers Under 21? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Oakland Auto Insurance Quotes for Drivers Under 25? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for Good Students in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Tread Depth and Tire Safety (State Farm)
- Side airbags reduce rollover fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
- Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)