Do you need a fast way to compare more affordable Lincoln Mark LT insurance in Oakland? No car owner anticipates paying for car insurance, especially when they know the price is too high.
It’s amazing but the vast majority of car insurance customers have stayed with the same insurance company for at least the last four years, and just short of a majority have never even compared rates from other companies. With the average car insurance premium being $1,387, Oakland drivers could cut their rates by 35% a year by just comparing quotes, but they don’t understand how simple it is to save money by comparing rate quotes. Multiple car insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a insurer to get the lowest price on Lincoln Mark LT insurance in Oakland.
It’s a good habit to compare rates before your policy renews since prices are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Just because you found the best deal on Lincoln Mark LT insurance in Oakland on your last policy you can probably find a better rate now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding Mark LT insurance out there, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn some excellent ideas to find cheap car insurance in Oakland.
If you have insurance now or just want to reduce your rates, take advantage of these tips to reduce the price you pay while maximizing coverage. Locating the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Oakland is actually not that difficult if you follow our advice. Consumers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to quote multiple rates using one simple form.
Finding a better price on car insurance is not a difficult process. Consumers just need to take the time to get quotes online from several insurance companies.
Doing online price quotes comparisons is so easy that it makes it a waste of time to call or drive to insurance agencies in your area. The ability to get quotes online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you require the trained advice that only a licensed agent can provide. Although you can obtain prices from the web but have your policy serviced through an agent.
The companies in the list below provide free rate quotes in California. If you wish to find cheap auto insurance in Oakland, it’s highly recommended you compare several of them to get the lowest price.
Slash rates with these discounts
Insurance is easily one of your largest bills, but you might already qualify for some discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some discounts apply automatically when you purchase, but some discounts are required to be requested specifically prior to getting the savings.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to enroll and complete driver’s education in school.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Options like air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
- Sign Online – A few larger online companies may give you up to $50 shop Oakland car insurance online.
- Student Discounts – Maintaining excellent grades may save you up to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
- Federal Government Employee – Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% but check with your company.
- Own a Home and Save – Just being a homeowner may trigger a policy discount on insurance because of the fact that having a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
As a footnote on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though you would think you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck.
If you would like to view providers that provide some of the discounts listed above in Oakland, click this link.
Buying car insurance from Oakland insurance agents
Many people still prefer to sit down with an agent and that is a personal choice. Good agents are trained risk managers and help in the event of a claim. A good thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find lower rates and still have an agent to talk to.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information gets sent to companies in Oakland who will gladly provide quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. There is no reason to contact any agents because quoted prices will be sent to you instantly. In the event you want to quote rates from one company in particular, you just need to jump over to their website and submit a quote form there.
Choosing the best company requires you to look at more than just a cheap price quote. Any agent in Oakland should be willing to answer these questions.
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Which family members are covered?
- Does their agency support local causes in Oakland?
- How often do they review coverages?
- Which company do they place the most coverage with?
- Does the company use OEM repair parts?
- Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
Multiple types of auto insurance agents in Oakland
When looking for a local agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures and how they function. Car insurance agents in Oakland can be classified as either exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments. Either one can sell car insurance policies, but it’s important to point out the difference between them since it could factor into your selection of an agent.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agencies
Exclusive insurance agents can only write with one company and examples are AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. Exclusive agents are well trained on their company’s products which aids in selling service over price.
The following are Oakland exclusive insurance agencies who can help you get price quotes.
Larry Sneed – State Farm Insurance Agent
11881 Skyline Blvd c – Oakland, CA 94619 – (510) 336-9909 – View Map
Farmers Insurance: Cuong Cao
433 International Blvd – Oakland, CA 94606 – (510) 836-5555 – View Map
Kristen Law – State Farm Insurance Agent
3940 High St c – Oakland, CA 94619 – (510) 530-3200 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents of this type often have many company appointments so they can quote policies amongst many companies and get you the best rates possible. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can just switch to a different company and that require little work on your part.
When comparing car insurance rates, it’s recommended you compare quotes from multiple independent agents so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
Listed below are Oakland independent insurance agents that are able to give price quote information.
All Purpose Insurance Agency
5857 MacArthur Blvd – Oakland, CA 94605 – (510) 382-1900 – View Map
Fiesta Auto Insurance Center
4102 International Blvd – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 261-1300 – View Map
JCB Insurance Services
6427 Westover Dr – Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 336-3490 – View Map
Auto insurance can get complicated
When buying insurance from an agent or online, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique and your policy should reflect that.
For example, these questions might point out whether your personal situation might need an agent’s assistance.
- Can I get a multi-policy discount?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving out-of-state?
- Can I cancel at any time?
- Where can I find DUI or SR-22 insurance?
- What does medical payments coverage do?
- What policy terms are available?
- Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
- Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Smart Consumers Save Every Year
Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help calculate insurance rates. When consumers understand what controls the rates you pay, this helps enable you to make changes that could help you find big savings. Multiple criteria are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. A few of the factors are predictable such as your driving history, but other criteria are more transparent like where you live or how financially stable you are.
Raising comp and collision deductibles lowers prices – Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your Lincoln from damage. Examples of covered claims are a windshield shattered by a rock, flood damage, and rolling your vehicle. The deductibles define the amount the insured will be required to pay in the event of a claim. The higher the amount you pay before a claim is paid (deductible), the lower your rates will be.
You might want pay the minor insurance claims yourself – Auto insurance companies in California provide the lowest premiums to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Your car insurance is meant to be used in the event of the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
Impacts performance impacts auto insurance rates – The make and model of the car you are insuring makes a big difference in your auto insurance rates. The cheapest insurance rates are generally reserved for low performance passenger cars, but that’s not the only thing that factors into the final price.
Pay more by driving carelessly – How you drive has a huge affect on how much you pay. Having a single citation can bump up the cost by as much as twenty percent. Attentive drivers get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. People who have dangerous violations such as DUI or willful reckless driving may face state-mandated requirements to maintain a SR-22 with their state in order to prevent their license from being revoked.
Here’s why car insurance is not optional
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Lincoln Mark LT in Oakland, insuring your vehicle may be required for several reasons.
- Most states have minimum liability requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage 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 bought your Lincoln with a loan, it’s guaranteed your bank will force you to have insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank may insure your Lincoln at a much higher premium rate and require you to pay for the expensive policy.
- Car insurance preserves not only your vehicle but also your financial assets. Insurance will pay for all forms of medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also covers legal expenses if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If you have damage to your Lincoln as the result of the weather or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance definitely exceed the price paid, particularly for liability claims. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver overpays more than $825 a year so it’s important to compare rates once a year at a minimum to make sure the price is not too high.
Compare insurance rates regularly to save
We just presented quite a bit of information on how to shop for Lincoln Mark LT insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the higher your chance of finding cheaper Oakland car insurance quotes. You may even find the biggest savings come from the least-expected company. Regional companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate or State Farm.
As you restructure your insurance plan, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost while still protecting your assets.
Steps to finding low-cost rates for Lincoln Mark LT insurance in Oakland
Really, the only way to find affordable Lincoln Mark LT insurance is to regularly compare quotes from insurers who sell auto insurance in Oakland. You can compare prices by completing these steps.
- First, take a little time to learn about auto insurance and the measures you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating criteria that are responsible for high rates like at-fault accidents, careless driving, and an unacceptable credit history can be eliminated by being financially responsible and driving safely.
- Second, quote rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can quote rates for a wide range of companies. Click to view companies
- Third, compare the quotes to your current policy premium and determine if there is any savings. If you can save some money and buy the policy, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
- Fourth, notify your agent or company of your intention to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit a down payment along with a signed application to the new insurer. Be sure to keep the new certificate verifying proof of insurance in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.
One bit of advice is that you use the same level of coverage on each price quote and and to get rate quotes from every company you can. This helps ensure a fair price comparison and maximum price selection.
To read more, link through to the resources below:
- Insuring a Leased Car (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Oakland Car Insurance for a Toyota Corolla? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Oakland Car Insurance Rates for a Ford Fusion? (FAQ)
- Comprehensive Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Cellphones, Texting and Driving (iihs.org)
- Pickups fall short in headlight tests (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Air Bags: Potential Dangers to Your Children (Insurance Information Institute)