Best Oakland Scion tC Insurance

Nobody I know loves paying for auto insurance, especially when the cost is way too high.

It’s an obvious assumption that car insurance companies want to keep you from shopping around. Drivers who do rate comparisons are inclined to buy a new policy because there is a good chance of finding lower prices. A recent survey discovered that consumers who shopped around every year saved as much as $865 a year compared to other drivers who never shopped around.

If finding budget-friendly car insurance is your goal, then having a good understanding the best way to compare auto insurance can help simplify the task of finding more affordable coverage. Online insurance companies like Allstate and Progressive persitently shower you with ad campaigns and it can be hard to not get sucked in by the cute commercials and do the work needed to find the best deal.

The companies shown below have been selected to offer quotes in California. In order to find cheap auto insurance in Oakland, CA, we recommend you visit several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Affordable rates by earning discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t list the entire discount list in an easy-to-find place, so the list below contains a few of the more common and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance.

• Good Students Pay Less – Being a good student could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
• Discounts for Government Workers – Simply working for the federal government could provide a small rate reduction with certain companies.
• No Claims – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less as compared to frequent claim filers.
• Drivers Education – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers enroll in driver’s education in high school.
• Save with More Vehicles Insured – Having more than one vehicle with the same company can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
• ABS Braking Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents so companies give up to a 10% discount.
• Responsible Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may save up to 50% more than drivers with accident claims.
• Driving Data Discount – Drivers that enable data collection to scrutinize vehicle usage through the use of a telematics system such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate could save a few bucks if they exhibit good driving behavior.
• Paperwork-free – Some companies will give a small break for signing up on the web.

As is typical with insurance, many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don’t profit that way.

The chart below illustrates the comparison of Scion tC auto insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The rates are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, 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 multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-car, claim-free, marriage, and homeowner discounts applied.

A list of auto insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be found below.

• Farm Bureau offers discounts including 55 and retired, youthful driver, safe driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, renewal discount, and good student.
• State Farm may offer discounts for safe vehicle, Drive Safe & Save, Steer Clear safe driver discount, good driver, and defensive driving training.
• Progressive includes discounts for online signing, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, homeowner, and multi-policy.
• Allstate may have discounts that include defensive driver, teenSMART discount, economy car, auto/life discount, and safe driver.
• Nationwide may include discounts for Farm Bureau membership, anti-theft, easy pay, family plan, defensive driving, good student, and accident-free.
• MetLife policyholders can earn discounts including claim-free, accident-free, good driver, good student, multi-policy, defensive driver

When comparing rates, check with each company or agent to apply every possible discount. A few discounts may not apply to policyholders in Oakland. To see insurance companies that offer many of these discounts in Oakland, click here to view.

Insurance coverage details

The premium information shown next covers different insurance rates for Scion tC models. Being aware of how auto insurance policy rates are calculated can assist in making decisions when shopping your coverage around.

Data based on single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-policy. Price information does not factor in Oakland location which can change price quotes greatly.

Rate comparison for different deductibles

One common question asked by Oakland drivers is at what level do you set your deductibles. The following insurance rates can help you understand the differences in price when you choose different insurance deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second data table uses a $500 deductible.

Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Premium costs do not factor in specific location information which can raise or lower rates noticeably.

Based on the figures above, using a $250 deductible costs about $20 more each month or $240 a year than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $250 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average more than 13 months between claim filings, you would probably come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible.

Should you buy full coverage?

The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Scion tC insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The data assumes no violations or claims, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.

Guidelines for eliminating full coverage

There is no set guideline of when to exclude comp and collision coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is about 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s say your Scion tC claim settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would receive is $6,000 after paying your policy deductible. If you are paying over $600 a year for physical damage coverage, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

There are a few cases where eliminating full coverage is not advised. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage in place.

Buying auto insurance from Oakland auto insurance agents

A lot of people still prefer to get advice from a local agent and that is not a bad decision Professional insurance agents are very good at helping people manage risk and give you someone to call. The best thing about comparing rates online is the fact that drivers can get cheap auto insurance rates but also keep your business local. Buying insurance from small agencies is important particularly in Oakland.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, the quote information gets sent to companies in Oakland that can provide free Oakland auto insurance quotes for your auto insurance coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to drive around since rate quotes are delivered to you directly. If you wish to quote rates from a particular provider, just navigate to their website and fill out their quote form.

If you want to buy auto insurance from a reliable agent, it’s helpful to know the different types of agencies and how they are distinctly different. Agents are categorized either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Either can do a good job, but it’s important to point out the difference in the companies they write for since it may influence buying decisions.

Independent Auto Insurance Agencies

Independent agencies can quote rates with many companies so they can quote policies through many different auto insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If you want to switch companies, your agent can just switch to a different company which requires no work on your part.

If you are trying to find cheaper rates, you need to include rate quotes from a few independent agents to maximize your price options.

The following is a small list of independent insurance agents in Oakland who may provide free price quotes.

View more agents

Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies

These agents have only one company to place business with like Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agents cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so always compare other rates. These agents receive a lot of sales training on the products they sell and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.

Below is a short list of exclusive agencies in Oakland that are able to give price quotes.

View more agents

Finding the right auto insurance agent should include more criteria than just the premium amount. Before buying a policy in Oakland, get answers to these questions.

• Do they prorate repair cost based on vehicle mileage?
• Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in Oakland?
• Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
• If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
• Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in California?
• How much training do they have in personal risk management?
• How many years have they been established?

Eight Tips to Get Cheap Oakland Insurance Premiums

It’s important that you understand some of the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that can earn you much lower annual insurance costs. Many different elements are used when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious such as traffic violations, although some other factors are more obscure like your continuous coverage or how safe your car is.

Shown below are just a few of the factors companies use to determine your rates.

• Good credit saves on auto insurance – Your credit history can be an important factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. People that have excellent credit tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with poor credit scores. So if your credit is not that good, you could pay less to insure your Scion tC by improving your credit score.
• Reduce auto insurance rates by driving safer cars – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have lower insurance rates. Safer cars help reduce the chance of injuries in an accident and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims which can mean better rates for you. If the Scion tC is rated at a minimum four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org it may be receiving lower rates.
• Higher coverage deductibles are cheaper – Physical damage protection, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your vehicle. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be a broken windshield, hitting a deer, or theft. Comp and collision deductibles represent how much money you are required to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more money you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
• Auto insurance policy lapses increase rates – Driving without insurance coverage in place can get you a ticket and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage lapse. Not only will you pay more, not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine.
• Your car’s features help determine premiums – Selecting a car model with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your premiums. Theft prevention devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your car from being stolen.

• Age of drivers impacts costs – Older, more experienced drivers are shown to be more cautious, cause fewer claims and accidents, and are generally more financially stable. Young drivers have a tendency to be inattentive and easily distracted behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher.

  The next chart is based on a single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.

• Filing policy claims can cost more – If you file claims often, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance companies in California provide the best rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Your insurance policy is intended for claims that pose a financial burden.

• Drive a fast vehicle and pay more – The performance of the car or truck you need to insure makes a significant difference in how high your rates are. Small economy passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.

  The following chart uses these assumptions: single male driver age 40, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It illustrates Scion tC rates compared to other models of vehicles that have a range of performances.

• Insurance loss data for Scion tC vehicles – Insurers take into consideration insurance loss statistics for every vehicle when determining insurance rates. Models that have increased losses will cost more for coverage. The next table illustrates the loss history for Scion tC vehicles.

  For each insurance policy coverage type, the claim amount for all vehicles as a whole is a value of 100. Numbers under 100 represent a good loss history, while values that are above 100 point to more claims or tendency to have higher losses.

  
  

  Scion tC Insurance Loss Statistics

  Make and Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Scion tC	133	139	136	148	152	143

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years

Why you need quality insurance for your Scion vehicle

Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Scion tC in Oakland, insurance is required by state law in California and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.

• Almost all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require specific limits of liability insurance in order to drive the car 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 have a lien on your Scion, almost every bank will stipulate that you buy insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Scion at a much higher premium rate and require you to fork over the higher premium.
• Insurance preserves not only your Scion but also your financial assets. It will also provide coverage for medical bills for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.

The benefits of buying enough insurance definitely exceed the price paid, particularly when you have a large claim. Today the average American driver is currently overpaying as much as $700 annually so compare quotes from several companies at every policy renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.

The most affordable rates come from being thorough

We just presented many ideas to reduce Scion tC insurance rates online in Oakland. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding cheaper Oakland auto insurance quotes. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the smaller companies. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate and Progressive.

As you prepare to switch companies, don’t be tempted to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest cost.

Steps to buying lower priced Scion tC insurance in Oakland

If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to find affordable auto insurance rates is to compare prices at least once a year from companies who can sell car insurance in Oakland. Drivers can shop around by following these guidelines.

1. Try to comprehend how companies set rates and the measures you can take to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that result in higher prices such as traffic citations and a low credit score can be amended by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
2. Compare price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give prices from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can quote rates from multiple insurance companies.
3. Compare the new rates to the premium of your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available in Oakland. If you can save some money and buy the policy, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
4. Notify your current company of your intent to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit payment and a signed application to the new company. Make sure you keep your new certificate verifying coverage in an accessible location in your vehicle.

One key aspect when comparing rates is to use identical coverages on each price quote and to quote with as many carriers as you can. Doing this enables the most accurate price comparison and many rates to choose from.

Additional auto insurance information is located below:

• Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
• How Much is Oakland Car Insurance for a Ford Explorer? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Oakland Auto Insurance Quotes for Drivers Under 25? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Low Mileage Drivers in Oakland? (FAQ)
• New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)