Best Oakland Suzuki Grand Vitara Insurance

Did you make the mistake of buying an under-performing, overpriced car insurance policy? Don’t sweat it because there are many Oakland drivers thinking the same thing.

It’s an obvious conclusion that auto insurance companies don’t want you to compare rates. People who compare rates at least once a year are very likely to buy a different policy because there is a significant possibility of finding lower prices. A recent survey found that consumers who make a habit of shopping around saved an average of $865 annually compared to people who never shopped around for cheaper prices.

If finding the lowest rates on car insurance is your goal, understanding how to quote and compare insurance can save time and make the process easier. Lots of car insurance companies contend for your hard-earned dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to get the lowest rate possible on Suzuki Grand Vitara insurance in Oakland.

Lower-cost Suzuki Grand Vitara insurance in Oakland

Some providers do not advertise all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of some of the more common and the more hidden ways to save on insurance.

• Discount for New Cars – Buying insurance coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Defensive Driver Discount – Taking part in a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill and also improve your driving technique.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
• Senior Discount – Mature drivers may qualify for better insurance rates.
• Discount for Low Mileage – Driving less can qualify you for discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
• Paperless Signup – Many larger companies will provide an incentive just for signing your application online.

One thing to note about discounts is that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Despite the fact that it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it’s just not the way it works.

The chart below illustrates the comparison of Suzuki Grand Vitara yearly insurance costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The premiums assume a male driver, no claims or driving citations, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, homeowner, multi-car, marriage, multi-policy, and claim-free discounts applied.

A few companies that have some of the discounts shown above include:

• State Farm
• Liberty Mutual
• American Family
• Progressive
• Farmers Insurance
• Auto-Owners Insurance
• SAFECO

If you need lower rates, check with each company or agent which discounts you qualify for. All car insurance discounts may not be available in Oakland. If you would like to choose from a list of insurance companies that offer discounts in California, click this link.

Finding a lower price on insurance is surprisingly easy. Consumers just need to invest a little time to get quotes to find out which insurance company has affordable Oakland auto insurance quotes.

It’s so easy to compare price quotes online that it makes it obsolete to physically go to insurance agencies in your area. The ability to quote Suzuki Grand Vitara insurance online has made agencies unnecessary unless you’re the type of person who wants the advice and guidance only provided by licensed agents. It is possible to get prices online and have a local agent actually service the policy.

The companies shown below can provide quotes in California. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you get rate quotes from several of them to get the best price comparison.

Analysis of coverages

The table shown next covers a range of insurance prices for Suzuki Grand Vitara models. Having knowledge of how car insurance prices are established can help drivers make decisions when choosing a new policy provider.

Prices based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in garaging location in Oakland which can revise coverage prices significantly.

Policy deductibles

When comparing car insurance rates, the most common question is how high should your deductibles be. The figures shown below approximate the rate difference of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first rate table uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in your specific Oakland location which can influence coverage rates significantly.

We can estimate from the data above that using a $100 deductible will cost you roughly $50 more each month or $600 annually than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $900 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you average more than 18 months between claims, you would probably come out ahead going with the higher deductible.

One big caveat is that increasing deductibles to save money means you will have to pay more of your own money when you have a physical damage claim. That will require a higher level of savings in the event you have to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.

Suzuki Grand Vitara liability-only versus full coverage

The illustration below shows the difference between Suzuki Grand Vitara car insurance costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The prices are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?

There is no clear-cut formula of when to stop paying for physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is about 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s say your Suzuki Grand Vitara settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $6,000 after you pay the deductible. If premiums are more than $600 annually for full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

There are a few situations where dropping full coverage is not advised. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to keep full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.

The Suzuki Grand Vitara Insurance Price Equation

Lots of things are considered when quoting car insurance. Some factors are common sense like an MVR report, although others are less apparent such as your credit history or how financially stable you are.

The list below includes some of the most rate-impacting factors used by insurance companies to determine your prices.

• More mileage equals more premium – Driving a lot of miles annually the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. A lot of companies calculate prices determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting can be on a lower rate level than cars that get driven a lot. Improper usage on your Grand Vitara can result in significantly higher rates. Double check that your policy is rated on annual mileage.
• Combine policies and save – Most larger insurance companies give a discount to buyers who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you qualify for this discount already, drivers will still want to shop around to verify if the discount is saving money. Drivers may still find lower rates by splitting coverages up.
• Don’t let your insurance lapse – Not having insurance is a misdemeanor and any future policy may cost more because you let your insurance coverage expire. In addition to paying higher premiums, not being able to provide proof of insurance could result in a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You may then be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the California department of motor vehicles.

• Vehicle risk affects premiums – The type of vehicle you need insurance for makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. Economy passenger cars generally receive the lowest base rates, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.

  The chart below assumes a single female driver age 50, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Suzuki Grand Vitara insurance rates compared to other models that have different performance rating factors.

• With age comes responsibility – Teen drivers in California are statistically shown to be more careless behind the wheel so they pay higher insurance rates. More mature drivers are proven to be safer behind the wheel, statistically cause fewer accidents, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.

  The following chart is based on a single driver, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.

• Women tend to cost less – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown that females take fewer risks when driving. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. Both sexes cause auto accidents at a similar rate, but guys cause more damage. Men also statistically receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI. Males from age 16 to 21 are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.

  The illustration below shows the comparison of Suzuki Grand Vitara insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premiums are based on no claims or driving citations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.

• Liability limits on your policy – Liability coverage will afford coverage if a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides you with a defense in court starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to other policy coverages, so drivers should make sure they buy enough to cover all assets.
• High insurance claims frequency drives up prices – Auto insurance companies in California generally give the best rates to policyholders who are not frequent claim filers. If you file claims often, you can expect higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Auto insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.

Insurance quotes from neighborhood Oakland auto insurance agents

Many drivers would rather get advice from a local agent and we recommend doing that Good agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. One of the benefits of comparing insurance online is you may find the best rates and also buy local.

Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is sent to insurance agents in Oakland that give free quotes to get your business. You won’t need to do any legwork because prices are sent directly to your email. In the event you want to get a rate quote for a specific company, you just need to navigate to their website and complete a quote there.

Choosing the best insurance company should depend on more than just the price. Here are some questions to ask:

• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Oakland?
• Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
• What company do they have the most business with?
• Which family members are covered?

If you are searching for a reputable insurance agent or broker, it can be helpful to understand the types of agencies to choose from. Insurance agencies in Oakland are considered either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Both can handle insurance, but it is important to understand the subtle differences because it can factor into buying decisions.

Exclusive Insurance Agents

Agents in the exclusive channel can only provide pricing for a single company and examples are AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. They usually cannot shop your coverage around so always compare other rates. These agents are well trained on the products they sell which helps offset the inability to provide other markets.

Below are exclusive insurance agents in Oakland that can give you rate quotes.

More insurance agents

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agents are not restricted to one company so they can quote policies with an assortment of companies and find you cheaper rates. If they find a cheaper price, they can switch companies in-house and you don’t have to do anything.

If you need lower rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection.

The following is a short list of independent insurance agents in Oakland who can help you get comparison quotes.

More insurance agents

Car insurance is not optional but you don’t have to overpay

Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Suzuki Grand Vitara in Oakland, paying for car insurance is mandatory in California but it also protects more than you think.

First, the majority of states have mandatory insurance requirements which means the state requires a specific level of liability insurance coverage in order to be legal. 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 you have a lien on your Grand Vitara, almost every bank will require you to have comprehensive coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the bank will be required to insure your Suzuki at a much higher rate and force you to pay much more than you were paying before.

Third, car insurance preserves your car and your assets. Insurance will pay for medical transport and hospital expenses incurred in an accident. Liability coverage also pays expenses related to your legal defense if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If your Suzuki gets damaged, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.

The benefits of insuring your car more than offset the price you pay, particularly if you ever have a claim. As of last year, the average driver in California is currently overpaying as much as $750 every year so smart consumers compare quotes once a year at a minimum to make sure the price is not too high.

Affordable auto insurance is out there

We just presented some good ideas how to reduce Suzuki Grand Vitara insurance rates online in Oakland. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your car insurance rates. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from a lesser-known regional company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

Low-cost Suzuki Grand Vitara insurance in Oakland can be bought online and from local insurance agents, so get free Oakland auto insurance quotes from both of them in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies do not offer the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers only sell coverage through local independent agents.

Steps to finding low-cost Suzuki Grand Vitara insurance in Oakland

It takes a little time, but the best way to save money on auto insurance rates in Oakland is to annually compare prices from different companies that insure vehicles in California. Price quotes can be compared by following these steps.

1. Read about how insurance works and the measures you can take to keep rates in check. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices like high-risk driving behaviors and a substandard credit history can be amended by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
2. Quote rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote rates from multiple sources.
3. Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy to determine if you can save on Grand Vitara insurance in Oakland. If you find a better price and switch companies, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
4. Notify your company or agent of your intent to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application to your new agent or company. Immediately upon receiving it, put the new certificate verifying coverage with your registration paperwork.

One key aspect of rate comparisons is to make sure you enter identical deductibles and limits on every quote request and and to compare as many auto insurance providers as possible. This provides the most accurate price comparison and plenty of rates choose from.

For more information, link through to the following helpful articles:

• Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for Low Income Drivers in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Felons in Oakland? (FAQ)
• How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Infrequent Drivers in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Older Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Comprehensive Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Crash Avoidance Technologies FAQ (iihs.org)